Addie woke under the heavy weight of a man's arm, his soft snoring brushing the back of her neck. Sunlight streamed in through curtains the color of rose quartz, having not been pulled together the night before.

She subconsciously buried herself deeper into Theo's embrace as she thought of the day before. Addie knew she should instead get up, the sunlight telling of the late hour, but instead found the concept of leaving the bed, and the man in the bed, unthinkable. His muscles twitched against her shoulder as she positioned herself even closer to him. Addie had spent hours thinking of this, of being here with him. And she couldn't tear herself away just yet.

Theo teased of marrying her, but Addie wasn't sure he had thought it through all the way. Did she doubt that he loved her? No. Or that he would take care of the baby? No.

But Addie was once again in hiding. There would be those who undoubtedly thought she had killed George. Running away from London hadn't helped, of course. She wouldn't be able to return to town. More likely, Addie would have to leave the country, running both from her uncle and whoever wanted her dead. She couldn't expect Theo to follow her, to run with her. The two of them wouldn't be able to live happily ever after. At least not until the real killer had been found.

That was it.

Addie's breathing stopped, struck with the obvious answer. George's killer had to be found. And she knew just how to do it.

Inaction no longer an option, Addie snuck beneath Theo's arm and slipped her way to the edge of the bed. Grabbing a dressing gown, she crept through the bedchamber door and attempted to retrace her steps from the night before when they had arrived. Rosecrest Manor wasn't overly large, but it was big enough that it took Addie two tries to make her way to the parlor downstairs where she could call for a servant to send a message for her without disrupting Theo.

Rushing through the parlor doorway, she let out a scream of surprise and halted in her path at the scene before her.

Breaking what had clearly been, up until a moment ago, a passionate embrace, a very flustered Emilia jumped clear of her partner by two feet with a loud gasp.

"Addie!" she cried. "I didn't expect to see you there!" Her voice rang across the room, too loud for the small space.

Lord Trotten smirked in amusement next to her, looking entirely nonplussed. "Adelaide is the reason we came, Emilia," he pointed out.

She threw him a scowl, and his pleased expression only grew.

Addie smiled, happy, though surprised, to see them. And in such a fashion as well. Well that, actually, was not entirely shocking.

As she strode into the room to greet them, another startled gasp flew from Emilia's open mouth. "Addie! You're...you're expecting!"

Addie's hands went instinctively to her belly, reminding her of the silky fabric beneath them. Wearing naught but her dressing robe, she pulled it tighter around herself, only accentuating her increasing size.

Emilia crossed the space to envelop her in a warm hug, her chatter never ceasing as she did. "Oh, to be with child on top of everything else that has happened. You must be exhausted! No doubt you have just risen from bed. How are you? Is there anything I can get you?"

Really, Emilia had never spoken so many words in such a short amount of time.

Lord Trotten cleared his throat, putting his hand on the other woman's shoulder.

"Perhaps give Her Highness some space, Emilia. You're rather crushing her."

"Oh yes. Oh yes, of course." Emilia instantly dropped her arms from their grip around her and went to brush her perfectly pressed skirts.

Addie couldn't help but laugh. "Emilia, I'm quite alright. And I'm thoroughly pleased you are here. Wait, why are you here?"

"Will didn't think London was safe for me." Her eyes danced over to his in a look that said she didn't agree with his assessment.

But Trotten was unphased by her lack of agreement. "It wasn't." He spun to Addie. "With both you and Theo being targets, it was only a matter of time before someone came for her as well, once they realized you were both out of reach."

Addie regarded the other woman meaningfully. "He's not wrong, Emilia."

She just scoffed, wandering around the room, her hands picking up whatever they could find. A delicate vase, a small figurine of a bird, a book on gardening in 18th century England. One item after another she would pick up, examine momentarily and then place back down. Addie raised her eyebrows before turning back to Lord Trotten.

"I was just about to send a message, but perhaps you're able to provide me with an update from London."

Trotten shook his head. "London is utter chaos. The Bow Street Runners have been combing the streets, looking for you. The only public statements to have been released from the King is that the funeral is to take place the day after tomorrow."

Addie nodded, taking in the information. "At what hour?"

"At what hour?" Lord Trotten replied, confusion masking his handsome features.

"Yes," Addie replied impatiently. "At what hour is the funeral to take place?"

His brows drew together. "Noon, I believe." He paused. "You can't plan to attend, Your Highness."

It was a statement, rather than a question.

"Will, you must call me Adelaide. Honestly, we have had this conversation."

Trotten's eyes rolled away for a moment before refocusing on her. Emilia glanced between the two of them tersely.

"Adelaide, if you are having any thoughts about attending that funeral, cease them," he said, repeating himself.

"It would seem that for once, we are in agreement." A new, deep voice entered the conversation from behind her. Addie spun to see Theo, his eyes narrowed in an accusatory stare, his face was the picture of displeasure. He, like her, was in a state of undress, wearing only his white muslin shirt and breeches. His tousled appearance was devilishly attractive, but she straightened her shoulders, not willing to let either lord sway her. She looked to Will.

"You said yourself that the Runners are searching for me. How long will I last before they find me? Where could I possibly go to escape the likes of them?"

"Anywhere," Theo answered darkly for him. "France. Greece. Bloody America, I don't care."

"Well, I do care," Addie said hotly. "I do not wish to spend the rest of my life running."

"It would only be until they find whoever killed Prince George," Theo growled.

"Yes, precisely. But if Bow Street or the Crown believes that to be me, they aren't going to waste their time looking for someone else."

"Perhaps we should reserve this conversation until you are decently clothed," Theo grit out between his teeth.

Addie raised her eyebrows. "You seem to be missing some pieces of your attire, as well. No cravat, Your Grace? Tsk, tsk," she chided.

"That. Is. Different."

She crossed her arms in defiance. "I think not. As I was saying, if we wish to find George's killer, we must do it ourselves. Naturally, since I was the true target, he or she will also want to find me. So perhaps we should let them. The funeral would seem to be the per—"

Addie was cut off as a firm grip dragged her from the parlor.

"Let go!" Addie struggled against Theo's grasp on her arm.

"Not until you find some sense. And some clothes," he added.

Addie decided to allow his domineering intervention, if only for the time being. As much as she had resisted his point, some proper clothes did sound nice, if just for the fact that she had been growing cold. It would seem that Rosecrest Manor was considerably drafty.

Once back in their shared suite, Theo rounded on her. He pinned her against the door after it was shut behind them and glared at her with a cautionary glimmer in his eyes.

"What were you thinking, parading around Lord Trotten's manor in next to nothing?"

"I was thinking that I didn't wish to disturb you and also that I wished to send a message."

Theo mumbled under his breath, words that sounded suspiciously like, "Oh, you sent a message alright."

"I hadn't expected to see anyone. I didn't know that Will and Emilia would be coming." She waved his mutterings away with an errant hand, but he caught her wrist in a firm grip.

"Will." Theo's voice intoned.

"Yes, Will. Lord Trotten."

"I am aware of the man's name," Theo replied sharply, letting go of her wrist abruptly.

"Then why is it that you are repeating it as if you had never heard it before?

"Well, I've never heard you say it before. Little did I know that you were so familiar with the man. Calling each other by your given names and sitting perfectly comfortable in front of him, wearing sheer silk." Addie could hear the irritation in his voice and couldn't help but smile at it.

"I did live with the man for a short while, you know," she pointed out, purposely teasing him now.

"Oh, and did you frequently march around in states of undress then too?"

Addie let out a bark of laughter. "Certainly not."

"Damnit, Adelaide. This isn't funny."

"I rather think so," she said, shrugging and fixing him with a grin. "Are you jealous, Theodore Shepard?"

"Yes," he said without ceremony. He narrowed his eyes and put each hand on either side of her head, bracing his weight against the door. She was trapped between his arms, and she couldn't say she was upset about it. "Should I tell you how not funny this is? Or should I show you?" Theo asked in a husky whisper.

Addie's breath hitched as he spoke the words so close to her mouth that she could feel the air lightly on her lips. She ached for more than that fleeting feeling. The brief taste of him last night had not been enough.

"Both."

He smiled, his lips curling deliciously. "I was hoping you would say that."

Theo took one hand away from the door and softly tucked a hair behind her ear before trailing his fingers down her neck, her shoulder, her arm. He teased her as the cool silk brushed against her skin under his caresses. His hand settled on her hip.

Leaning even closer to Addie, he breathed in her ear. "I think I showed great restraint down there. I wanted to throw you over my shoulder the moment I walked in to see you standing there, every inch of you pressed against this damn fabric. "

His lips began to trail down her neck, and a small moaned released from Addie. When he reached the edge of her robe, he nudged it out of the way, continuing the path down her body that his fingers had just made.

"It is barely as transparent as you are making it sound," Addie scoffed, though her voice was weak with desire.

"I could see everything," Theo rasped against her skin.

Addie squirmed at the way Theo was grazing his lips over the curve of her breast, hitting every inch of skin except where she truly wanted him. "So, then what did you want to do?" she couldn't help but ask.

He lifted his head up, green eyes piercing her. "I would have brought you back here and pressed you up against this door. Like this."

Addie wouldn't have thought it possible, but he took a step closer, their bodies flush against each other.

"And I would have taken this cursed thing," he continued as he grabbed the edges of her dressing robe, "and ripped it off so I could see everything myself. So, I could feel it all myself. Where no one else can. Never anyone else."

"Never," Addie agreed, whispering.

Theo ran his hands up and down the center part in the robe, stroking his stray fingertips against her breasts, stomach, and legs as he did.

"No more talking," Addie gasped. "Show me."

The words were barely out of her mouth before he had torn the robe open and pressed his clothed body against the curves of naked flesh. She groaned at the rough sensation. He caught that groan in his mouth, kissing her with wild abandon.

"And then?" Addie asked between the deep strokes of his kisses. Tension was building up within her. She couldn't get enough of him.

He smiled against her lips. "Patience, my princess. I haven't felt all of you yet." His hands ran down along her sides to cup her bottom before moving up to cover her breasts. His fingers toyed with her nipples, and then they were replaced by his mouth.

"I cannot wait, Theo," she whined, eager as he tugged on her with his lips. "I have yearned for you for so long."

"As you wish, darling." She felt his chuckle, his smile. His voice dropped then as he added, "You have no idea how I have wanted for you."

Addie was drugged by him. His touch, his kisses, his deep gazes. Briefly, Theo's hands left her before being quickly replaced on her hips, hoisting her up against the door. And then fingers were between her legs, stroking her. "Theo," she gasped.

"Oh God, Addie. You are...everything." And then Theo was filling her with the most exquisite feeling she had ever known.

She threw her head back against the door, staring blankly at the ceiling. Her mind empty to everything except for him.

"No," he breathed harshly. "I need you to look at me, Addie."

She obliged, seeking his eyes as she moved her head down once more. They were dark, lustful. "This is what I wanted, Addie. The moment I saw you down there."

She moaned as his hardened length moved within her, the need for him increasing even as she had him. "Next time, do whatever you want. Right away."

He tilted his forehead to meet hers momentarily, grinning. "Noted."

Theo began thrusting harder into her, and Addie heard the cries come from her throat as she was filled with hot, drenching pleasure. "Did I mention that I missed you?" Theo muttered huskily into her ear. "Or that I love you?" Then he groaned, his breath coming in short spurts.

All Addie was able to say was an emphatic, "Yes!"