"I'm sorry, you're going to have to say that again," Addie intoned, attempting to wrap her head around what Andrew had just said. Emilia came up beside her and squeezed her hand.
"Why don't you sit, Your Highness," Lord Clemonte was kind enough to offer, pulling up one of Lord Trotten's many exquisitely carved chairs. A chair that Addie would sooner smash into a million pieces than sit in demurely.
But, alas, she remembered her place and sat. For all women must play their role once in a while, even if it lacked sincerity. She sat, and they all sat with her.
Lord Trotten's finely furnished parlor room swirled around her as she tried to search out Theo's face. She couldn't find it. She saw him, but she couldn't find his face, for he was too engaged in staring at his hands. She willed him to look up, but he didn't.
"His Royal Highness has asked for your hand in marriage, Adelaide," Andrew repeated.
"My cousin, George?" Adelaide questioned as if there could be anyone else. As though she should have seen this coming.
She was answered by nods around the room.
"By Jove, you've done it, Your Grace!" Lord Clemonte clapped Andrew on the back with a hearty thwack. Andrew showed little reaction toward the felicitation.
"Yes, surely this is a sign of good faith from the monarchy." Lord Farrington smiled and nodded toward Andrew as well.
"He is rather handsome, you know," Lady Humphries added as if Addie wasn't aware of what her cousin looked like. "Quite the gentleman too, if I remember correctly. Nothing like his father."
"Naturally, we would negotiate certain terms of the marriage, such as what your titles and privileges would be as the newly crowned princess and future queen," Andrew stated, matter-of-fact.
Again, nods were seen around the room.
"Yes," Lord Farrington spoke again, "you should retain all the rights you ought to have right now."
"However, this is certainly irregular for a royal to marry another English royal," Lord Clemonte commented.
"Well, this whole situation is highly irregular," Lord Farrington pointed out with a sardonic flick of his wrist.
Lord Clemonte chuckled. "Indeed it is, Farrington."
While one half of the room was chattering on about her upcoming nuptials, the other half was drowning in silence, and finally, one of those members broke it.
"Can we trust them?" Lord Trotten spoke softly.
Addie regarded him with surprise before catching movement to his left. Theo had finally glanced away from his hands and was eyeing Lord Trotten with something akin to...relief? Gratitude?
When no one responded, Lord Trotten spoke again. "Perhaps I should rephrase." He cleared his throat. "We cannot trust them. Believe me, when I ask this question, that it is sincere. How do we guarantee that Adelaide doesn't meet the same fate as her parents and brother?"
Adelaide sucked in her breath and then let it out in a long stream, thankful that he had said it.
"Will," Emilia hissed at Lord Trotten, and it took Addie a moment to realize that it must be his Christian name. "Do have a care."
"No," Addie interjected, "I want to hear what he has to say."
"I know King Ernest better than any of you, even Adelaide, and I wouldn't trust this proposal for a minute."
"You think he would have George renege on his proposal to marry her?" Lady Humphries asked with a frown.
Lord Trotten shook his head. "No, Her Highness would marry into the family. It is what would happen afterward that worries me."
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Before She Ruled (Before Series, Book 1)
Historical FictionIn hiding as a maid, Princess Adelaide must resist the charms of the devilishly handsome Duke of Kingfield. But could he help her if she told him her secret? ***** Two years ago...