"Theodore, are you even listening to me?" his sister asked in a huff, noticing how distracted he was—distracted by a pounding headache and a guilty conscience, only amplified now with the awareness that he was barely acknowledging his only living family member.

"Hm?" he responded, hating himself just a tad for the barely-there reply.

To make matters worse, the door swung open with a decidedly conspicuous motion, revealing a tray of tea carried by a frazzled brunette. Addie looked as though she would rather clean the dirt off his floors than serve them their tea at this moment.

He could not blame her. He didn't particularly want her serving them tea either. Something about it felt...wrong. And it didn't help his distracted state. Theo forced himself to look away from her and back to Emilia.

The look he received upon turning to his sister was less than delighted—one might even consider it a scowl. But Emilia waited to say anything further until Addie had finished arranging the tray, and then softly dismissed her, allowing the two of them to prepare their own tea. Theo busied himself with the act, forgoing the cream to reach for the sugar bowl. Using silver tongs that likely cost more than some men's monthly allowance, Theo selected two sugar cubes to indelicately plop into his tea.

He set about stirring the tea three times before bringing it to his lips.

"I am listening, Emilia," he prompted her before he took a sip of the hot liquid.

"Why, yes, now you are," she replied, clearly vexed. With an elongated sigh, she continued. "I know you really do not wish to speak of finding a wife, but I must press the idea upon you, brother."

"And why is that?"

"Your years are increasing in number, or did you not realize? It is what typically occurs on your birthday each year."

"Oh, come off it, Emilia. I am not that old."

Emilia leaned in conspiratorially. "I believe I saw a grey hair in all that golden mess just a day past."

"You did not," Theo argued, though he didn't truly care.

"I would wager there is more than one. You do not have dark hair, so they would not be as easily spotted."

Theo couldn't help but smile at his little sister when he said, "Enough, Emilia. Why is it really that you wish me married?"

But she only shrugged.

"Surely there is a reason you are hounding me on my aging years."

"Well," she hedged, "I do think it is past time. Do you not want children? An heir?"

"I am not sure," Theo replied honestly.

"You would be a splendid father, Theo. And a few children running around would certainly liven this place up a bit." She glanced wistfully around the room, and it struck Theo what she was really on about.

"Emilia, are you sure it isn't you who would like children?"

She blushed, but spoke matter-of-factly, as if what she was saying made the most sense in the world. "Well, yes, but that ship has sailed. So now I am prevailing on you to provide me with an abundance of nieces and nephews." Emilia glanced at him with a pert, expecting smile.

"My dear, you cannot rely on others to provide you with what you truly want."

Her smile faltered.

"Even if I were to get married and have ten children, they would never be enough for you. You want your own children, a family."

The teacup Emilia was holding shook slightly in her hands, and she set it down unceremoniously. The crash of porcelain against porcelain made her jump, and Theo felt bad for speaking so bluntly. Not sure if it would help or not, he added softly, "Your ship has not sailed. It is merely waiting for you to find the courage to get on. I will escort you to every ball London has to offer so you can find a husband."

"I will not be invited," she lamented.

"People will not refuse you, Emilia. Let me take you."

Emilia shook her head. "How can you be so certain?"

"Being a duke has to come with some perks, doesn't it?" That got a small smile out of her, and Theo was determined that one day he would see her smile fully once more.

"I cannot, Theo."

"I am sure to have a dozen invitations laying around to events this very week, Emilia. I will pick one out for us to attend."

"Theo," Emilia warned just as Addie reappeared to bring a tray of biscuits. After setting them on the small table before Theo's sister, she withdrew to the back corner, waiting to be dismissed.

Theo should likely do so, but then he would not be afforded the opportunity to relish in her presence.

Forcing his attention back to Emilia, Theo offhandedly said, "Madame Mischief reports that Prince George is looking to acquire a wife."

Emilia nearly choked on her biscuit. Once she recovered, she said, "Theo, I cannot decide what is more ridiculous. The fact that you have had your nose in Mischief in Mayfair, your implication that I might marry the prince, or that you view wives as something to simply be acquired. Like a horse."

Theo pretended to be affronted. "You like horses."

Emilia threw a biscuit at him, and he caught it with a laugh. Theo thought he might have heard Addie giggle from her place in the corner, but he couldn't be sure. When he risked a glance at her, she was staring at her feet, her face hidden.

Addie was the picture of the perfect maid, but Theo wasn't fooled. The truth was that Theo had been spending his evenings with her in the library, and with each passing day, he was more and more certain that she was anyone but precisely who she said she was. And now that Theo had opened his large trap of a drunken mouth and spilled to her about his search for Princess Adelaide, it was even more important that he knew exactly who she was.

Addison Singleton, an orphaned daughter of a professor from Hertfordshire. That was what she had told him when he'd asked. And sure, it had explained her quick mind and education, but Theo knew there was more to the story than that.

If she had come from a respectable family, surely she'd have had other options besides becoming a maid. With such a background, why not a governess? Or more curiously, why had she not simply married?

And the more that Theo pondered on it, the more he worried. Because one does not pick a life of servitude unless it is forced upon them. Who or what had forced Addie into such a role?

Addie wasn't keen on giving Theo any answers to his questions, however. Instead, they had focused on going through new and old copies of Mischief in Mayfair. In particular, they combed the editions from the weeks leading up to the death of the royal family, but also, Theo thought, perhaps there might be a clue hidden in recent columns.

His quick-witted maid had teased him for having so many old gossip rags, but Theo happened to know Madame Mischief himself, meaning it hadn't been difficult to acquire as many as he had wanted. He did, however, allow Addie to believe that he was a man that merely had a penchant for gossip. It seemed to amuse her, and he enjoyed seeing her smile.

And now, Emilia seemed to think the same of him. However, she was not smiling.

"Emilia," Theo said with a chuckle. "I was not implying that you would marry Prince George. Lord, no. I shouldn't wish that for you, dear. I cannot imagine being married into the royal family." He shuddered at the thought of having to live a life attached to the king.

Emilia cast him a confused glance. "Then—"

"I was mentioning His Highness because I have heard that he is to marry Princess Louisa of France, and Lady Prewett is hosting a ball specifically in hopes that the princess will attend on her trip to London."

Emilia blinked at him several times very fast.

"We could attend Lady Prewett's ball, Emilia," he spelled out for her. "It is to be a large affair, I am certain. Perfect for your reentry into society."

"No, Theo," she replied firmly. "Leave it, brother."

Theo knew when Emilia was not going to change her mind, and now was one of those occasions. He wished that he could make her see that the only one holding her back was herself.

When they had finished their tea, Theo excused himself. It was time for him to put together his findings regarding Princess Adelaide. Regretfully, he hadn't found much, but he had made certain conclusions that he wished to share with Andrew.

Most importantly, Theo had gathered plenty of evidence of King William and King Ernest's distaste for each other. According to sources from court, King Ernest would secretly complain about his brother's political decisions, boasting about what he would do differently. Apparently, he would even plant seeds of doubt, saying that Queen Adelaide's children were illegitimate. The claims were never taken seriously, however, as everyone knew how prude and conservative she was, and it was moderately well known that King William and Queen Adelaide were faithful in their marriage.

In other words, though Theo did not know where the princess was, his information could lend a hand to Andrew in two ways.

One, if King Ernest was indeed that conniving, then it wouldn't be out of the realm of theory that he had been behind the carriage accident that caused the death of the previous royal family.

And two, if Princess Adelaide had survived the accident, she would have been in peril. Even if King Ernest hadn't had a part in the fatal carriage accident, he likely would have made sure there were no survivors. And if all of what Theo had learned was true, Adelaide would have known this as well. She would undoubtedly be cautious. What would stop Ernest from killing one more member of the royal family to achieve what he wanted?

With a deep sigh, Theo put his pen to paper.

At this point, while he did not know for certain that Princess Adelaide was alive, he hoped to God she was. Because this country needed saving from the king.

****

A sour taste had filled Addie's mouth as she stood in the corner of the Kingfield House parlor, and it seemed no matter how many times she attempted to swallow, it would not go away.

Theo's words rang in her head, and even his rather sweet conversation with Lady Emilia could not distract her.

It did not surprise Addie that George was searching for a bride. Naturally, Ernest would be eager to secure his line, and forcing his son into the marriage bed was the only way of doing so.

But Princess Louisa?

Addie attempted to school her expression lest Theo should catch sight of her scowl. She did not miss the way he continued to peek over his sister's shoulder at her. That expression of his teased her endlessly.

But it was hard not to scowl.

Addie had always known her cousin George to be reasonable. He was genuinely even-tempered, an intense contrast to his father. And it had been her one hope—that Ernest's old age would catch up with him before too long, and George could ascend to bring England some normalcy.

But Addie knew that this possible tie with the French was simply another way for Ernest to puppeteer his power in misguided ways. Diving into France's unstable monarchy was not a move that would bode well for England, and Addie longed to know what Ernest could possibly be thinking.

George was neutral, a grey in a world of black and whites. But Addie did not reckon he would stay that way were this marriage to happen. He would get pulled into something he would not be able to control.

A stab of guilt cut through her. She was a coward for hiding here at Kingfield House while her uncle continued his poor decisions.

Addie did not realize that her frown had, indeed, leaked onto her face. At least not until the clearing of Lady Emilia's throat.

"My brother has left," the lady said plainly, peering at Addie over the rim of her tea.

Addie started. She glanced around to see that the duke's sister was right.

Lady Emilia raised a brow. "You were so lost in your thoughts that you did not even see the look he cast you on his way out the door."

Addie was not certain what to say to that. Although, she was rather disappointed to have missed the look.

She was rather fond of his looks.

"Oh, come now, Addie. I thought of all the people in this house, you might speak plainly with me," Lady Emilia said, a slight accusation in her tone.

Addie managed to clear her throat. "And why would you think that, my lady?"

"You speak plainly with my brother, do you not?" Lady Emilia challenged, eyebrows raised. She set her teacup down.

"I—I have been trying to tame my tongue, my lady."

"Do not bother." The other woman smirked. "I daresay that Theo does not wish for that." She gave Addie a meaningful glance.

Addie's cheeks flamed, and she ducked her head further in an attempt to hide her flush. But it would seem nothing slipped past Lady Emilia.

"Ah, it would seem that I am correct on that account," Lady Emilia said, humor in her voice. "Really, Addie, you needn't hide anything on my account. In fact, I find that we have much in common."

Addie was startled into looking at the duke's sister, finding it difficult to believe that they were having this conversation.

"Oh yes," Lady Emilia continued, having seen the surprise in Addie's face. "Come." She patted the cushions on the settee where she was sitting. And when Addie did not move, she gave it a second little pat. So Addie strode across the parlor and lowered herself next to Lady Emilia.

"You are trying so hard to be this shy little maid, to be reserved and obedient." She waited, regarding Addie with interest. When Addie didn't give an indication either way to her question, she spoke once more. "But you are not. We can all see you are not."

The breath left Addie's body. All this time she had worried over Theo's questioning, over his probing gaze. But in glancing at Lady Emilia's arched brow, Addie wondered if it was his sister who she should have been wary of.

Lady Emilia sunk back into the cushions. "My brother, he is allowing you to be more of who you are, as opposed to who you think you are supposed to be. He is...providing something, perhaps?"

That struck a chord in Addie. "It is not like that, Lady Emilia. I am not some...some social climbing libertine," she said defensively.

The other woman seemed disconcerted at first, but she quickly schooled her face to an even composure before smiling.

"That's more like it. Isn't it, Addie?"

But Addie wasn't amused at what Lady Emilia was implying. She did not repay the smile.

"You are entirely misunderstanding, however," Lady Emilia said, unbothered by the glare she was receiving from Addie. "That to which you refer is not what I meant when I said that Theo is letting you be more than you are. You are clearly an educated woman, a fact that I am sure has its own story. You clearly have more to say and more to do in this life than be a maid."

Addie went to open her mouth again, but Emilia cut her off.

"No, it is a good thing. You do not wish to live within the box you were given, and you have found someone who can open that box. Not because of who he is, but because he sees who you are," Lady Emilia soldiered on.

Addie stopped, absorbing Lady Emilia's words. And she...she understood. Slowly, she nodded.

"You should know that I do not care. And moreover, I understand," Lady Emilia stated as she got comfortable on the sofa, tucking her delicate feet beneath her and leaning back against the armrest.

"Who let you out of your box, Lady Emilia?" Addie asked, feeling as though it was the appropriate thing to ask. The lady had started the conversation, after all, so Addie felt comfortable voicing the question.

Lady Emilia gave a sly smile and nod to the question, to the boldness of it.

"Lord Trotten," Lady Emilia responded, her smile slipping away. She looked down at her entwined fingers.

"What happened?" Addie hedged after a quiet minute.

Lady Emilia's gaze cut back to Addie, coming out from the lost moment she had been visiting.

"Quite simple, really," Lady Emilia said sharply. "I had my debut into society when I was eighteen years old, as did many young ladies. I found that I had many suitors seeking me out, but for all the wrong reasons. They sought me for my dowry, for the connection to my brother, for a pretty face. And they would say...they would say that they wanted me despite my oddities.

"And so many of them I rejected, not willing to be controlled by such a man. And then in my third season, Lord Trotten asked me to dance. No," she corrected, "he asked me to waltz. He asked me to waltz three times in one evening, simply to prove to me that he cared not for the whispers of the ton, for the manners that we all were supposed to uphold."

Addie nodded, knowing exactly how society would respond to such an overreach of propriety.

"And so, he requested courtship, and I allowed it for this man who threw manners to the wind for me. For the man who liked me because of my oddities and not despite. And then he proposed, and I said yes. Within no time at all, he ruined me. And then he left."

Addie's eyes grew round.

Lady Emilia looked away then, but not before Addie saw the anguish on her face, the wounds still fresh after so many years.

"But why?" Addie asked, needing to know something that was so far out of her place to know.

Lady Emilia shook her head and took a deep breath in an attempt to steady herself. "He said that he thought he could move past my blatant disregard for politeness and the politics of society, but after deciding to take his place in the House of Lords, could no longer take that risk to his reputation."

"He should not have done that, Lady Emilia."

"No," she stiffened and agreed. "He shouldn't have. But the point is, there are always consequences for who you choose to be. And even so, you shouldn't let that hold you back."

And it was with those words that Addie realized a simple truth about the Shepard siblings. While Theo was sharp, Emilia was wise. She was a woman who was keenly aware of how the world worked. After all, a woman was bound to the spinning wheel of society more than any man.

Addie sat in contemplation for a few moments, startled when a voice interrupted them.

"My lady, pardon me."

Emilia jerked and looked toward the doorway. Addie followed her gaze to see Adam, one of the footmen. She would recognize that face anywhere. He had one of those plastered smiles, always seeming to be there and never seeming to be meant.

"The duke wishes to see Addie in the library."

Addie blanched. What did that blasted man not understand about discreteness?

Emilia giggled softly. "Yes, alright," she said. "Go along, Addie."

Standing, Addie swallowed and followed Adam into the hallway.