A Royal Kiss and Tell

Leo resisted directing a withering look to Josef. He wanted to say of course they would accept, as he was being followed and suspected of treason against his own father and appearances were desperately important. “Je,” he said simply. “I should appreciate the diversion before we depart this land. You should take the night for yourself, Josef. Take in the theater, perhaps.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

It was the sort of vague response Josef always gave him. Neither a yes or no, but a simple thank you. Would he take in the theater? Or would he plot against his employer?

Leo had been looking at Josef a little more closely of late. He suddenly didn’t trust him. Josef had always been unreadable, but now that enigmatic posture seemed suspect, especially in light of the fact that Josef had been the one to suggest Cressidian to him.

Leo recalled how Bas had felt in London those days after Matous was murdered—he trusted no one but Leo, and a pretty woman who lived in a modest town house who liked to repair clocks. He was becoming more like his brother every day.

“I shall notify Freddar that you will need formal clothing for that evening,” Josef said, making a note in his leather journal.

Leo wondered about that leather journal. What other notes did it contain? “Thank you. You may go.”

Josef glanced up. Leo rarely was the one to end their appointments—generally Josef was bustling off to take care of this or that. But he gathered his things and stood, then bowed his head. “Send Kadro to me,” Leo added, his gaze once again on the invitation.

“Je, Your Highness.”

Kadro entered a few minutes later and bowed.

Now Leo studied his guard. Kadro had been with him for six years now—surely he would have noticed something along the way if Kadro was involved in something nefarious? Or had he spent so much time at the bottom of a bottle that he wouldn’t have noticed anything at all? Entirely possible. “Have you noticed anyone following me?” he asked.

Kadro looked confused. “No, Your Highness.”

“Perhaps on the street as I’ve trundled about,” he said, gesturing lazily with his hand.

Kadro’s brows knit into a frown. He shook his head.

Leo slowly stood. “Well, someone has been following me. I’ve seen him, and I wonder why you haven’t. I should like to know who he is.”

Kadro’s feelings about this flashed across his face in a look of confusion, then alarm and then doubt. But he nodded and said, “Je, Your Highness. Artur and I will keep watch.”

“And keep an eye on Josef,” Leo added.

Kadro blinked. He looked as if he wanted to speak. He clearly wanted to understand what had prompted this warning. But Leo wasn’t going to tell him more.

Kadro nodded curtly.

“Thank you. You may go,” Leo said, and turned away from his guard.

He felt unlike himself. A wholly different person from the man who had occupied this skin for twenty-nine years. He didn’t like living with dull suspicions and the need to look over his shoulder. He didn’t like it at all.

Yesterday, a note had come from Hawke:

Your Royal Highness, greetings and salutations. I am writing to invite you to attend the Pennybacker ball with Lady Caroline and myself. She assures me an invitation has been extended to you and feels very much that you should not enter that “den of rumormongers and anxious mothers” all alone. I have suggested that my sister is chief among the rumormongers, and she has said some very unkind things to me in return. But it is her wish, and I extend this invitation because I have proven time and again that I am powerless to deny her. Therefore, it would be our great honor if you were to attend the ball in our company, if for no other reason than to keep brother and sister from maiming each other. We look forward to your favorable reply. B.H.

Leo couldn’t help but smile as he imagined the scene between brother and sister. The Hawkes were the only bright spot in this strange new world he’d created for himself.

He’d sent his favorable reply. He was ready to attend and free Rasa.

He was, however, unusually anxious, given that his previous attempts to free the maids had not gone smoothly. Part of him wished that he could enjoy the ball as he might have a year ago—with an abundance of wine, dancing, perhaps a card game or two.