Court of Flowers (Sutherland Book 1)

VI | An Agreement

"He became a gentleman of Belcourt merely a week ago. We were not aware of his plots until the crown prince himself came forward and personally asked Belcourt to accept Blackwood's application into Belcourt so we could spy on him. The prince has reasons to believe that your flower joined Belcourt as part of his plot."

"But the prince has no proof of the plotting. He has intercepted a letter addressed to the Blackwood from England, but it is not enough to put him to trial," Lady Eastwell added to Lady Mariam's statement.

"What letter from England?"

"The letter did not provide anything, but the fact that it answered a question regarding people that had been involved with the previous monarchy is enough to make us assume that Blackwood is up to something."

"And you should know, Sasha," said Lady Mariam, "that the previous king of Sutherland was dethroned twenty-nine years ago and it is believed that he fled to London before he was made to answer for the crimes he did during his reign."

Everything was starting to fall into pieces for Sasha. Except for one thing.

"And where does my flower fall into this? He could simply be curious about the previous monarchy and its allies. The letter intercepted by the prince could be from someone else entirely—a scholar from England. Anyone."

"You are indeed the right woman for this task," Lady Eastwell said with a smile. "You ask the right questions." She gestured with her hand as she answered Sasha's question. "Your flower is the son of Addison Blackwood, the previous prime minister of the previous monarchy. He was very loyal to Reginald and was believed to be the man who helped the fallen monarch escape Sutherland."

A small gasp escaped Sasha's lips. She knew of Addison Blackwood as they were taught of Sutherland's history, and she wanted to slap herself for not having made the connection when West introduced himself.

Addison Blackwood died in 1798, leaving behind a tarnished title. And it meant only one thing.

She tried to stifle her groan as she murmured, "Good lord."

Lady Eastwell smiled in understanding. "You must now be feeling the weight of this mission, Sasha."

Sasha closed her eyes, breathing in and out slowly. When she opened them, her eyes locked with Lady Eastwell's gaze. "He is a duke."

"Yes, he is," Lady Mariam said, "but do not let his title scare you, dear. It is just a title. He is still a man. And they can be controlled and manipulated just as easily as anyone else."

"You were chosen because you are smart, Sasha," the Mistress of the Court of Arms said. "We trust that you can fulfill this mission."

"You wish me to find proof of treason," said Sasha. "And if there is none?"

"No harm done." Lady Mariam shrugged. "We will be proving his innocence and the crown prince can rest his mind."

"And if I do find proof?"

"You deliver it to us immediately and the king shall deal with him. He still has his title because his father was never proven of any crime. Since his father's death, West Blackwood had been working hard on polishing the tarnished reputation he inherited from his father. He may have succeeded, but the fact remains that the man is his father's son. Addison Blackwood died believed to still be in correspondence with Reginald. If he had plans with the previous monarch, his son could very well have taken his place."

Or not.

Sasha could not help but give her flower the benefit of the doubt. Just as in any studies, she had to find proof and facts. She could not just rely on theories.