Strike at Midnight(69)

“It was shocking how desperate this woman was to destroy a man’s life, Father,” the prince said, and the king nodded in agreement.

“Many have done much more for less, my son. It is the way of the world sometimes, I’m afraid.” He looked at me. “So what is your next move?”

“Erm,” I uttered, feeling like I was having an extremely surreal experience. “I’m going to try questioning Lord Camembert and his wife to try and determine if they were victims of the same ruse. Or at least if his wife is a victim. It’s probable that Lord Camembert is also an imposter wearing his face, and that they were sold the same package.”

“You didn’t tell me that!” the prince said, and I could see the interest flare up on his face once more.

“Please forgive me, Your Highness,” I said, looking at him. “But it is not really your place to be privy to such an investigation. It is too dangerous and fraught with potential danger.”

Ha. Let him get out of that one now that daddy dearest knew what he had been up to.

“Oh, do not worry, dear girl,” the king said. “My lad should learn about such things, and he should have the duty of relaying a lot of this information to the Royal Guard. They are aware of some of what has happened since he updated them on the information of who tried to kidnap him.”

“You know about that?”

“About him coming to Lower City to find you and then getting hit over the head and kidnapped?” He smiled. “Yes, my dear.”

Was I dreaming? Or was this really happening? What king would be happy that his son—his only heir—had gone venturing off on some wild adventure to chase a woman way beneath him, and get kidnapped in the process?

“And you don’t think he was foolish for doing something so dangerous in coming to find me?”

“It was silly for him not to take a guard,” the king said. “I will agree to that, and we have spoken about it at some length. But I’m sure he has learned his lesson.”

“I don’t believe this,” I muttered.

“Time is getting on,” the king said, and he tapped his son on the shoulder. “Some people are asking for you, my son, and it’s time for you to rejoin the hunt. I will return this wonderful lady back to her friends.”

The prince went to say something and looked at me as if he wanted me to understand. But I didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why he had felt the need to tell his daddy everything, and I didn’t understand that he was about to leave me alone with his father. A king.

“Of course, Father,” Prince Andrew said, and then he disappeared off around the hedgerow. The absolute bastard of a coward.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” I said, moving around him to make my getaway from this awkward situation.

“Just a moment, my dear,” he said, and he raised his hand as if to stop me. “A word, if you will?”

“If this is going to be a warning to stay away from your son then you’re wasting your breath,” I said, not being able to stop the words from falling out of my mouth. I was pissed off, and when I was pissed I was reckless. The king tilted his head to the side as if he were studying me, then he smiled again.

“Is that so?” he replied.

I took a deep breath to calm myself. “I meant that I have no interest in pursuing him for any reason beyond being a friend. I will ensure that it is made clear to him.”

“You do not like my son that way?” he asked, and this conversation was turning into another head spinner that I wasn’t prepared for.

“I never said that,” I said, not wanting to lie to the king. Or to insult his son. “I only meant that I am aware that I am beneath him in every way and that I am not suitable for someone of his background. I will not encourage his favors anymore, and I will do all I can to keep him out of the investigation. I won’t see him harmed.”

“I see,” the king said, and he stroked his mustache as he studied me. “Then I suppose we have nothing more to say.”

He needn’t have agreed so readily, for goodness’ sake. I wasn’t perfect, but that didn’t mean I liked people reaffirming it to me. He offered his arm for me to take and I reluctantly put my hand on it.

“May I say one more thing?” he asked, and he led me away from the fountain.

“You are the king here, are you not?” I asked, and it was the best I could do under the circumstances.

He chuckled. “That I am, but I am also a father. A father who wants his son to be happy. You can understand that, surely?”

The fury hit me so hard that my fingers tensed on his arm. “Yes. I can understand.”

“Good,” he said, patting my hand as we walked. “Then can we agree that you will stop using excuses such as your station to avoid being with him. It’s not fair to play with a man’s heart, my dear.”

He stopped as soon as we came around the hedge and turned to face me. He seemed content with the shocked expression on my face.

“I won’t see him hurt,” he said, then he lifted my hand to lightly kiss my knuckles. “By anyone. Are we clear?”

Was I clear? Hell no. I was more confused than that muddled swan that thought he was a duck. What exactly was the king trying to say?

“We’re clear,” I said eventually. But I didn’t know what the hell I was confirming or agreeing with. My head couldn’t quite put the pieces together after the two royals of Carena had messed with my head.