They were greeted by a butler who was familiar with Theo. He directed them to the study, and Addie felt herself unconsciously holding her breath as she entered the room. The sound of male voices greeted them, and she checked around to see two gentlemen. She was not familiar with either, and the Duke of Weston was not in sight. She let out the breath she had been holding.

"Ah, Lord Farrington. Nice to see you." Theo greeted the gentleman to the right with a smile, and the man responded in kind. Theo then spun to his left, his expression turning grim. "Lord Trotten," he said, giving the man a clipped nod. He did not wait for the lord to respond before beckoning Addie forward.

She felt herself blanch, recognizing Lord Trotten's name. No wonder Theo was short with him, if this was indeed the man who had ruined his sister.

"This is Miss Addison Singleton," Theo introduced her to them. She gave a quick curtsy toward both gentlemen.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lords." Addie studied them. Both were of a similar age to Theo and handsome. They were built, as was fashionable in society, with slender although toned physiques, but ultimately drew up short when standing next to Theo, who was positively demanding in his presence.

"The pleasure is all ours, Miss Addison," Lord Farrington responded smoothly. There was a glint in his eyes as he surveyed her with more than polite interest. Theo wrapped his arm around her waist slightly and pulled her close in response. His body taut beside her, Addie's insides betrayed her as they flamed against his touch.

"We have business with Weston," Theo said with a slight edge to his voice. "Is he in?"

"Yes," Lord Trotten responded. "We were finishing up business with him ourselves, and he only stepped out a moment ago. He should return shortly."

Theo gave a curt nod. When he didn't make any further comments, Lord Trotten cleared his voice and said, "We should be on our way."

Lord Farrington did not appear as though he was eager to leave but reluctantly followed his companion to the door. He nodded in Theo's direction. "Your Grace." Theo repaid the nod stiffly. Lord Farrington then looked at Addie. "Miss Addison, it was lovely meeting you."

Addie maintained a polite expression and nodded her head in respect. "Likewise, my lord."

With one last smile in her direction, Lord Farrington left the room. When their footsteps had completely faded from the hallway, Theo spun her around to face him.

"Likewise, my lord," he mocked.

Addie fixed him with a glare. "How did you wish for me to respond, Theo?"

"I believe when you met me you had no problem unleashing that sharp tongue of yours," he accused.

Addie rolled her eyes, not giving him the satisfaction of a response. She slipped away from his hold on her.

"You mustn't grab me so. People will mistake your possessiveness for something else."

Theo's eyes glittered down at her. "I do not believe they would be mistaken in any of their assumptions."

She inwardly denied the flip of her stomach as she drew a quick intake of breath, throwing her hands on her hips in defiance. "Your Grace, I am not yours."

He chuckled, unbothered. "You are my maid, are you not?"

Addie glared at him. "Yes, but that is all. It gives you no control over my body."

Theo mumbled in response. "God, don't I know."

Addie was transfixed by him as he gave her a funny stare. She found herself staring at his lips, daring to remember when they had kissed her.

How was she to go on in the employ of this man when she knew what it felt like to be kissed by him? How was she to converse with him and forget what they had shared? How were they not to repeat it when she could feel how much he longed to?

Addie longed for it, too.

The sound of footsteps approaching the room caused Addie's heart to pound even faster as she knew who they might belong to. She broke away from Theo's lustful gaze, whirling expectantly toward the door to the study.

The Duke of Weston walked into the room, his presence demanding. His hair was graying, but his matching eyes remained sharp. He was still a handsome man in his older age. The duke walked directly to Theo, either ignoring or not noticing Addie's presence. Their hands clasped in a firm but friendly handshake.

"Theo, my boy," the Duke of Weston greeted casually. "What have you brought me?" He turned to face Addie then. "Besides a lovely lady, of course."

His face met hers for a delayed moment. Addie held her breath. The duke's obsidian gaze gleamed, but Addie was unsure if it was in recognition or not.

"The lovely lady is Miss Addison Singleton, and she has been assisting me with our task," Theo explained, a little hesitant as he spoke.

The Duke of Weston didn't look away from Addie as he said, "She has, has she?"

Theo nodded once. "Miss Addison, may I introduce you to the Duke of Weston?"

Addie curtsied politely in response and murmured, "Pleased to meet you, Your Grace."

Weston rotated toward Theo again and asked, "And where did you meet?"

"Actually," Theo hedged, "Addie is a housemaid at Kingfield House. I ran into her in St. Giles one night, walking alone after she had been let go from a previous position," Theo responded, giving his friend a meaningful glance.

"I see," the duke replied. Addie held her breath, but he asked no further questions. Instead, he gestured to the plush armchairs, positioned side by side. "Well, please do sit, both of you."

Addie and Theo sat next to each other. Addie tried to relax her shaking limbs. She risked a glance at Theo. He, too, appeared nervous.

He said, "I have learned that Addie is well-informed on matters of the royal family."

"Interesting," Weston said, though he did not appear to find it interesting at all.

Theo pulled out the document that Addie had read last night. "This is information I think you might find valuable."

The Duke of Weston took the papers from his friend and without precedence began to skim through them. Only the rustling of fabric could be heard as Theo shifted his legs back and forth. After a few minutes, the duke put them in his lap, focusing directly on his protege.

"And does Miss Addie understand to what end you were doing this?" He gestured to the papers.

"Yes," Theo said, not meeting Andrew's eyes. The older duke's mouth formed a thin line.

"Perhaps I could speak on this matter with her alone for a moment, Theo?" Weston turned toward Addie.

"You mean for me to wait in the hallway?" Theo asked, his voice coming out curt.

Andrew chuckled and stood. "Your pride can last five minutes outside."

"Doubtful," Theo muttered. But after a reassuring glance toward Addie, he left the room, leaving her alone with Andrew, the Duke of Weston.

The older man gave her a soft smile as Theo closed the door behind him. He held her gaze, appraising Addie with piercing eyes and an aloof grin. She maintained her posture, waiting in respect for the duke to speak. But after several moments of continued deference, Weston did something that completely changed the roles they had previously been playing.

He bowed.

"Your Highness," he said, his smile widening even further.

Addie couldn't say she was stunned, but her stomach dropped nonetheless. She didn't react, didn't move a muscle besides the corners of her mouth, which firmly pressed into a tight line.

The duke straightened again, unaffected by her lack of response. "Not going to deny it, Addie? Or shall I say, Adelaide?" He asked the question with a tilt of his head.

There was a long pause as Addie considered her options.

"Would it make a difference if I did?" she countered. "I do not believe either of us to be fools in this game."

"Oh, this is no game," Weston sobered.

Addie laughed darkly. "Believe me, I know that most of all."

"I know you do," he responded quietly.

He motioned for Addie to sit, waiting for her to do so before he followed suit. "Kingfield has delivered on his task expertly. It is too bad he doesn't seem to know it." Weston paused. "Or does he?"

"He does not." Addie shook her head, and Andrew took that news in stride.

His eyes softened. "I had to hope that you were alive after hearing rumors, Adelaide. It is so excellent to see you here looking so well. You are well, aren't you?"

"Yes," Addie responded quickly. "His Grace has been a most gracious employer. Although, I must admit that it is nice to see a familiar face."

"Good. You will be safe there until we can arrange for further plans."

Addie shook her head, refusing his words and his plans. "Did it not occur to you that there was a reason I have been hiding? Why I haven't come to you before?"

Weston raised his brows. "Naturally, it has."

"Andrew, I am not certain that anything has changed for me."

He sighed deeply. "I may have addressed you with your previous title here tonight, but that is not who you are anymore, Adelaide. You are not even a princess. You are our queen. And you certainly aren't a housemaid."

Addie began to shake her head again, but he cut her off.

"Simply think about it, Adelaide. Return with Theo and continue on as you were. But you need to ask yourself who you want to be in this world—a maid for a duke or the queen of this country?"

Addie sighed. "What of Kingfield? Should he know? He is suspicious of me."

Weston laughed lightly. "Yes, I am not surprised. You do not play the part of a maid well, and Theodore is sharp. However, I do not think he should know just yet. He would be unable to treat you as his maid."

Addie nodded once in response, deciding not to tell Andrew that Theodore Shepard certainly hadn't been treating her as a maid last night when she'd been pressed against his bookshelves. Instead, she replied, "I will await word from you at Kingfield House."

"Adelaide," Andrew said as she was about to turn away, "I have one question for you. Did he suffer? Did they suffer?"

She took his meaning immediately and closed her eyes in pain. "No. It happened too quickly." Her face wrinkled in concentration as she thought back. "The carriage held just ourselves. Father called out to stop the carriage just before it happened, and that is the last I remember until I woke up in the snow sometime later."

Andrew eyed her speculatively. "Do you know why His Majesty wanted to stop the carriage?"

"No," she whispered woodenly, her mouth dry. "They were...gone...when I woke. And I could not stop for death. So I left."

Andrew let her go with his eyes, and she departed the room.

But Addie had a feeling she would be back soon.