The duke was regarding the woman with a smile brighter than she had ever seen him wear. The stunning lady, with her slightly upturned nose and soft brown eyes, beamed back at him with absolute adoration.

Addie's stomach jolted at the sight, one that was obviously full of tender affection. How foolish of her to think that the duke had been even remotely interested in her. Addie was merely a maid, but this woman in front of her was every bit the lady that she no longer was. And clearly, they were already very familiar with each other.

Addie was about to duck past them, hopefully unnoticed, when the duke spotted her standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"Addie, I would like to introduce you to someone very important to me," he said, gesturing grandly to the woman standing next to him, his mood completely transformed from just before. Addie supposed some women had that effect on men.

But did he honestly mean to introduce her to this willowy wisp of a woman? Why he would do such a thing, Addie couldn't begin to fathom. She had no place being here during this intimate greeting and desperately wanted to disappear into the floral wallpaper.

But not given any other option, she slowly approached the two of them as Kingfield began the introductions.

"Lady Emilia Shepard, my sister." He then gestured to her while looking at the other woman. "Miss Addie Singleton, our newly acquired housemaid."

"What a pleasure to meet you, my lady," Addie responded, keeping her tone as light as possible. She swept into a curtsy, covering her face and the certain surprise on it. A small amount of unbidden relief washed over her, and she promptly pushed that emotion aside.

When she stood up again, the duke's sister was happily smiling at her.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Singleton," Lady Emilia chirped.

"Please call me Addie, my lady," Addie responded, attempting to make her station in the household very clear.

"Addie, then. Where have you and my brother been this afternoon?" she asked, evident curiosity in her friendly voice.

Before Addie could respond, Kingfield smoothly interceded for her.

"Addie has been assisting me with some research that Andrew has tasked me with."

Lady Emilia looked between the two of them while Addie nodded in agreement with the duke.

"Interesting," she mused. Then she waved in the air as if dismissing her interest. "Leave it to Andrew to come up with some project or other to fill your time."

Kingfield shrugged. "It isn't as though I have much else to do, Emilia."

"Oh, yes," Lady Emilia responded, her voice dripping in sarcasm. "You've nothing but a dukedom to manage and a wife to find."

The duke smirked. "My accounts are all well-balanced, and the dukedom is well under control, Emilia."

Addie could not help but notice that he hadn't addressed the bit about the wife. It seemed that Lady Emilia also caught that, and Addie could hear her mutter something beneath her breath that sounded resolutely like "...Simply need a woman."

The duke merely chuckled in response, ignoring his chagrined sister. "How long will you be staying, darling sister, before you leave us again for the country?"

"It entirely depends on how long I can suffer the ton and the thick air of London," she replied tartly. "And you, dear brother."

"So, not long?" he drawled, laughing slightly.

"Likely not," Lady Emilia agreed. But she was beaming in spite of herself.

Addie continued to stand awkwardly in the entrance to the home, waiting for dismissal when instead it seemed like these two unconventional aristocrats were happy to include her in their familial conversation. Finally, it appeared that His Grace took notice of her discomfort.

"My apologies, Addie. You are, of course, free to leave us to our own devices."

Addie nodded in response, relieved to disappear back into the kitchens where no one would ask her questions she couldn't answer. Or where no one would make her heart beat fast or her mind spin in circles. Yes, the kitchens were a safe place to be.

****

Theo had not come much closer to finding the whereabouts of Princess Adelaide.

Had Andrew finally cracked?

Theo wanted to trust his friend and mentor, but he found it hard to believe that the dead royal was, well, not dead. Everyone knew that King William IV and his entire family perished two years ago.

Well, everyone except a bartender who had once worked at an inn called the Red Hare. That was who he and Andrew had been there to see in St. Giles at that godforsaken pub, the man swearing to have spotted the young woman at his establishment the night of the grisly accident.

"I remember her, I do," the man had tried to persuade them. "Our whole street had closed down once for the king to ride by in that fancy cart of his. I saw her then, the princess. I ain't never seen a princess before, so I remembered it, I did. And then there she was, sittin' in my inn. I almost didn't recognize her. She didn't look so good. But it was her, I'm sure of it."

Theo still hadn't been convinced.

"It has been two years since then. Why have you not said anything?" he'd asked.

The man sputtered. "I've told aplenty of people. But they all think I'm off my rocker. Then I hears that this old toff is lookin' for information, and so I told 'em to send him my way." He had pointed to Andrew with shining eyes.

Theo did not wish to know how Andrew had been pushing around that he was seeking such particulars under the streetlamps of St. Giles. It worried him more than a little, and he gritted his teeth thinking about it.

Theo sat at his desk for another hour, draining glass after glass of brandy and thinking about the princess and what he had uncovered this afternoon at Lord Clemonte's. Or rather, what he hadn't uncovered.

And when he could no longer think in circles, he moved his thoughts to Addie.

Theo was honestly feeling a little guilty; condemnable for something he wasn't even sure he did. Addie had been enjoying herself at the baron's home until he had demanded she sit on the floor to help him sift through old papers. Her previously carefree manner deteriorated the moment she had knelt down next to him.

But why should he care that she seemed unhappy about it? Hell, shouldn't he be more upset that she lounged about for practically the whole afternoon? Briefly, Theo had entertained the idea that perhaps she was a tad insolent, deserving to be fired from the Bennett household. But when he questioned Mrs. Combs about the new maid, she had nothing but positive remarks to say on the matter.

Oh, who was he kidding? Theo did not give a damn about her work habits, not truly. After all, he hadn't brought her home with him because they needed help at Kingfield House. He had merely wanted to get her off the streets. He had wanted to save her from the desolate alleyways of St. Giles and the horrors that occurred there.

Not to mention, he simply liked her. And he was having an awfully difficult time even seeing her as a servant. Theo reckoned there was a reason for that outside the obvious, but he did not know what it was—yet. Addie was hiding something, and he would figure out what it was.

Theo shook his head, deciding he needed to go to bed. He got up to do so, wandering out of his study and down the hallway. He found that he was a little less steady on his feet than usual, his shoulder meeting the wall more than once as he walked.

It had grown late, and when Theo rounded a darkened corner, his shoulder came in contact with something decidedly softer than a wall. He heard a distinctly feminine gasp at the contact.

"Begging your pardon, miss." He gripped the woman's shoulder to steady her. Or perhaps to steady himself. He looked down to find surprised, luminous blue eyes staring back at him.

"Addie?" he murmured, shocked to find his thoughts materializing in front of him.

Her head was only inches from his own, and he resisted the urge to close the distance. She bit her bottom lip in a nervous gesture that worried and tempted him at the same time. Such plump lips, only ripened further by the pressure of her teeth grating against the delicate skin. He might have groaned aloud. Theo couldn't be sure.

Lord, he must have drank more than he realized.

Shadows of the night danced across her features so that half her face was covered from view, making it even more difficult than usual to read her.

"My apologies, Your Grace."

Theo frowned. "I thought we had decided you were going to call me Theo."

"We had decided no such thing." She smiled. He liked that smile. He had missed it on their ride home this afternoon. Theo grinned back at her, and suddenly Addie's face fell. She considered him for a moment before asking, "May I ask you something?"

"Of course," Theo replied, leaning in with interest. He hoped whatever it was she asked, he could reply in a way to make her grin once more.

"What is it exactly that your friend is interested in?"

At that, Theo frowned, too. "I've already told—"

"No," she cut him off. "There is something more than that, is there not? More than simply the House of Hanover."

Theo took a deep breath before the word slipped out from between his lips. "Yes."

Addie nodded. "This afternoon..." Her words trailed off, and Theo picked them up for her.

"I was only interested in specific information, yes."

Her face scrunched up as if trying to decide if she dared ask any more of him. Then it cleared, resolved. "What is it, then?"

Theo readjusted his weight against the wall, stumbling slightly before straightening. "Why do you wish to know? You are so...curious, Addie. Fascinating, honestly."

"I am curious?" She laughed, but it was forced. She glanced away. "No reason, Your Grace."

He scowled. "I will tell you on two conditions."

Addie trained her eyes on the plum-colored walls while she deliberated. Then she gave a quick nod of assent for him to continue.

"One, no more of this Your Grace business. I will accept Theo or Kingfield, only."

He expected to see a frown, but instead, Addie seemed amused despite herself. "May I ask why you are so insistent on this?" she asked.

Theo shrugged, attempting nonchalance. "The novelty of having a title wore off long ago, Addie. Believe it or not, I do not enjoy being reminded of it every time I converse with someone."

Addie's eyes clouded over, and she mumbled, "I can believe that." Then she blinked up at him. "Alright. However, when others are present, I will still be permitted to address you with your title," she bartered.

He narrowed his eyes at her, even though he knew he should've expected her counter. All the same, he couldn't help but ache for his name on her tongue all the time. Everyone merely knew him as his title, and from her he found himself wanting more.

"Yes, fine." He said it flippantly, an attempt to disguise his inner thoughts and emotions. Addie gave him a resigned smile and then continued to stare at him expectantly.

"The second condition?" she finally prompted.

"First, say it," he demanded.

"Say what?"

"My name."

"Kingfield," she said, drawing the word out.

No, Theo thought. It was not quite right.

"The other one."

She hesitated. The moment stretched between them. Theo explored her expression, still half masked in shadows, aiding her poker face. Addie bit her bottom lip again, and he subconsciously drew closer to her, his hands going to her shoulders once more. Slowly, her mouth formed his name, and Addie's voice dripped between them.

"Theo."

Closing his eyes, Theo forced himself to lean back against the wall. He dropped his hands from her body as if she had scorched him with her voice. How he kept from kissing her at that moment, he would never be sure. His eyes flashed open again to find her mouth still agape in the shape of his name.

"The second condition," he said unevenly, since he knew the request was a mistake, "is that you'll keep helping me."

He had considered making her tell him what she was hiding—that would have been an equal exchange of secrets—but was concerned he would only get shut down. This way, he would still have her presence. He would have time to put together the pieces of the puzzle that was Addie.

He looked at her intently, awaiting her reply impatiently.

"Discreetly?" she asked, unsure. "The other servants—"

"Naturally, it will be discreet," he assured, cutting her off.

Addie gave a short nod, and Theo let go of air that he'd been unaware he was holding.

"Princess Adelaide."

She stiffened, nearly choking on her response. "What?"

"I am interested in the late princess," Theo clarified, though he would have thought that was clear. And then he frowned at her reaction, surprised that she should care so. "Or rather, my friend is."

Addie's features marred together, her scrunched brows changing the way the shadows hit her nose. "Why does the princess interest your friend so?"

Theo cocked his head to the side in a quick motion that made his insides swim. "Why wouldn't she be of interest?"

Her gaze swept over him, assessing. "Are you quite drunk, Your Grace?"

"And are you quite forgetful?" he asked back. "We had a deal if you recall."

"Theo," she ground out, decidedly less seductive than before. Still, a marked improvement.

"Certain people believe that the princess is still alive," he continued, choosing to ignore the question pertaining to his drunkenness. "And that is a good story." He waved his finger in front of her as if to make his point very clear. She did not need to know that their goal was much more than to tell a story. Something much more dangerous.

"Who thinks that?" Addie asked sharply.

Theo was taken aback by her tone but answered anyway. "Ahh, my dear. A duke never reveals his sources."

Addie was scowling at his use of her words against her. "What does anyone have to gain from this information? If King Ernest hears about this rumor—"

Theo's eyes narrowed, and he matched her tone as he replied.

"I assure you, Addie, that Andrew is incredibly careful with whom he entrusts with this information. I trust you will likewise be careful."

His words came out hard and calculating, and Theo saw her demeanor change, strangely, to something softer than before.

"You can trust me, of course. But why are you?"

Theo similarly altered his voice, his response coming out as a whisper. "God, I wish I knew."

****

Addie took her leave then, abandoning the duke as he stood, or rather leaned, in the hallway. What a dangerous, dangerous man. He was like a lion with his mane of dark blonde hair and keen, emerald eyes. And she had walked directly into his den. Not only that, but he continued to lure her further into its depths, and now she wasn't sure if she could escape.

Addie's heart pounded as she pushed her way through the darkness. She was certain that Kingfield must have heard the beat of her heart as they had stood together. Heard it as it accelerated, beating faster and louder the more that he spoke of a missing princess and his desire to find her. Not knowing that it was actually her, Addie, right in front of him.

Or was it possible that he already knew? Addie considered it briefly before pushing the idea aside. He couldn't know. At least, not yet. But how long until he did?

She shook her head as she hurried into her bedchamber and quietly pushed the door closed behind her. No, the real question was, who was this friend of his? And what did he know? She had capitalized on the duke's inebriated state, hoping to learn more about this project of his and what his friend wanted to know. She had gotten more than she had bargained for.

Addie should leave. She could go right now in the dead of night, and no one would be the wiser until it was too late. Addie rushed around in her small bedchamber, trying not to wake the other housemaids, Cora and Ginny, whose beds were on the other side of a fragile wall. Knowing they were there made her wish for Liza. More specifically, for a friend, someone simply to speak to and distract her from all of this.

Addie began to pull out her meager belongings, shoving them haphazardly into the same bag she had carried here the night the duke had picked her up.

The memory of that made her stop.

Where would Addie go? She would only end up walking through St. Giles at night again and could say with some certainty that a handsome duke wouldn't be the one to find her this time.

Or, perhaps, he would. Because if Addie left now, it would only cause his suspicions to rise. And Addie had no doubt the Duke of Kingfield would track his suspicions down were they strong enough—would track her down.

Addie began to place her items back in their locations around her quaint chamber, deciding she had to stay. The lion's den would perhaps be a safer place than running from him in his fields. For now, the lion seemed to trust her, and she could try to award him a small amount of trust in return.

Addie collapsed back in her bed, bringing the blankets up over her chin to meet her eyes. There was a level of comfort, happiness, and even dare she say it, safety, here at Kingfield House in her little attic bedchamber. A part of her did trust the duke, but she would have to continue to tell herself to stay wary of Theodore Shepard, lest she succumbed to his probing gazes and inviting smiles.

She would have to tame her betraying tell-all tongue and, also, restrain her basic desires. Addie could have sworn he had been about to kiss her tonight. Would she have had enough strength to push him away if he had?

A dangerous, dangerous man, this lion of hers was.

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