As they walked into Andrew's home, Addie kept peeking at Theo, trying to catch his eye. But he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze. He wasn't sure what he would see there and that scared him.

A footman greeted them, leading them down a hall he had never been through. A door on their left was open, and the servant motioned for the two of them to enter. Peering in, there was a small staircase descending about five steps before opening into a large room. Theo offered a stiff arm to Adelaide, and together they walked into the room. He could feel the slight shake of her hand as it gripped his elbow. Without thinking, he reached over to give it a reassuring squeeze.

Her bright eyes searched his face in the low lighting of the room, but he maintained his stony facade, still reeling from the blow of being lied to. Dejected, she dropped her head back down as they stepped from the final tread on the staircase.

It was a relatively large room that had a cavernous feel to it, a half story beneath the rest of the house. However, it was still decorated tastefully with large rugs of warm hues covering the floor and lamps casting a soft glow over the room. One long table was set in the middle of the room, reaching all the way down to a massive fireplace. Sitting at the table's end was Lord Trotten and Lord Farrington.

As if his blood wasn't already running cold, now he had to sit in the same room as the bastard that had ruined his sister. Theo shook his head, trying to think past the emotions that clouded his senses. If Addie was Princess Adelaide—which made so much goddamn sense that he hated himself for not seeing it before—and Andrew was going to reveal as much tonight, then the viscount, Lord Trotten, should leave. Immediately.

After ending his engagement with Emilia, the man had joined the House of Lords and proceeded to fight against everything that Andrew supported. Why the devil was he here? Lord Trotten was a friend of the king. Well, perhaps friend was too light a word. The man was the king's political adviser, his connection to parliament, his trustee.

Theo scanned the room again, this time for Andrew. Instead, he saw Lord Clemonte and Lady Humphries entering the room. Lord Clemonte was a close friend of Andrew's, which is why Theo had known that the baron wouldn't mind lending the use of his personal library to their cause. Though his demeanor had always been more robust and louder than that of Andrew's, Theo respected him. He was an overall affable fellow.

Theo wasn't as familiar with Lady Humphries, however. She was a widowed countess well known for her alluring character; most men wished for nothing more than to get past her sensual and peculiar facade. As a stunning brunette, she had sharp features to match that of her tongue. Hooded green eyes, and a beauty that only seemed enhanced by her age, there had been many things said about the accolades of Lady Humphries. But not many ways to determine their truths.

"Kingfield, good evening," Lord Clemonte said, giving Theo a firm handshake.

Theo nodded in response. "Lord Clemonte."

"And who do we have here?" Lord Clemonte gave a curious look at Addie.

"This is Miss Addie Singleton," Theo responded while Addie gave him a polite curtsy.

Lord Clemonte opened his mouth to greet Addie but was quickly interrupted.

"We meet again, Miss Singleton," Lord Farrington said as he stood, walking to join them.

Addie gave another curtsy. "What a pleasure, Lord Farrington," Addie murmured.

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to it. "The pleasure is all mine."

Addie gave him a small smile, and Theo frowned. Deeply.

"Well, I must simply join in on the action," a female voice drawled. But before they could continue any further in the exchange, Andrew strode into the room from a door in the opposite corner which Theo hadn't even seen.

Andrew automatically commanded the room. The Duke of Weston watched the ground as he walked, not even sparing a glimpse at the group. But when he muttered, "Please have a seat," they all quickly complied, sitting at the domineering oak table.

Andrew's eyes then found Addie, who had sat next to Theo. "Addie, could you come here, please?" he asked quietly.

Theo couldn't help but notice what Andrew had called her despite knowing the truth. The truth that they had both kept from him.

Addie slipped away towards Andrew, and Theo suddenly felt empty, the warmth of her company gone. She had been a light in his life ever since that day in St. Giles and now...well, now Theo didn't know what to think or feel. He sat back and watched as Andrew spoke in hushed tones to Addie.

The rest of them shifted in their chairs, looking curiously around at each other until Addie sat back down again. Andrew turned toward them all, giving a slight grin. "I am pleased you are all here. For today is an important day."

He paused. An echo rang in the room as they all hung on his words.

"I have spoken with all of you at great length about my beliefs. I know we are all in agreement that in today's society we can no longer choose to abstain from the political realm." Andrew quickly glanced at each of them as he addressed them.

"I find I disagree with that statement, Andrew," Theo interrupted, giving a pointed glare toward Lord Trotten.

The other duke paused, confused with the objection. Theo jerked his head toward Trotten again, but Andrew just stared blankly at him. So Theo jabbed his finger toward the other end of the table and said, "Satan's spawn, the devil's debauchee, defiler of women and the king's right-hand man. Right there, Andrew. Right bloody there."

Perhaps rage was clouding his judgement, but was there anyone he could trust not to betray him in this moment? But no one reacted; no one seemed to know what to say. Lord Trotten stared vapidly ahead, not quite meeting Theo's accusations nor denying them. Andrew merely addressed him with a sort of sadness. "I think you'll find that many things are not as they seem, Theodore."

Theo glowered at him, annoyed with his vagueness. Andrew ignored it and continued his speech, undoubtedly planned to the very punctuation.

"It is not about politics anymore. It is about decency. As people who hold power, we do not have the luxury to ignore the things that are in motion, things that are not what is best for England. The king is either too ignorant or misguided to understand what he is doing."

Theo scoffed. "Like hell he is. He knows exactly what he is doing."

"And so we are to enlighten the monarchy?" Lord Clemonte's booming voice asked. "How do you propose the seven of us do such a thing? And forgive me, but I know nothing of Miss Singleton. Do you think us fools to trust so blindly?

"It is a reasonable question, my friend. But Miss Singleton has more to risk in this than the rest of us. And I think very soon she will earn your trust."

Theo glanced over at Addie then, expecting her to show the hesitancy that she had voiced to him earlier. But there was no trace of that left in her hard stare. Addie's face was that of resilience. It was clear that whether or not she felt ready to do whatever it was that Andrew would ask of her, she was prepared. She hadn't simply resigned herself to her fate. She had come to meet it.

Despite all his frustrations, Theo couldn't help but be amazed by her at that moment.

Andrew directed his gaze to Addie, making sure that he looked her in the eyes. Addie gave him a distinct nod.

"You see, my friends," Andrew began, "Miss Singleton is the reason we are here." Seeing some eyebrow raises, unsure of what Andrew could possibly mean, he motioned to Addie.

Theo shook his head and held his breath, not able to believe that Andrew was going to have her reveal herself in the presence of Lord Trotten. He only prayed the older man had a plan.

Addie stood. "My lords and lady, my name is Miss Addison Singleton. But it has only been so for the past two years. Before that, I was known as Princess Adelaide, daughter of King William IV." There was stunned silence around the room and Addie paused, taking a deep breath.

"How can this be?" Lord Farrington muttered, frowning.

The princess fiddled with her plain dress, her fingers twirling the fabric as she spoke. "I survived the carriage accident that killed my family, and recently, I began working as a maid. For His Grace." She motioned toward him. Theo sat stiff in his chair, unmoving as the others glanced at him.

Addie then pulled off her wig, as she did when she had told Theo. The effect was startling; he could see it in the others' faces. She tossed her hair about and it fell in locks around her shoulders. Andrew picked up where she left off, explaining about the bartender in St. Giles, about asking Theo to find the missing princess, about how Theo had brought her to see him, even without knowing it was so. Theo sat, reliving the events as he told them. When he finished, Farrington spoke again, and Theo cringed. His voice was smooth, perfect, void of any real emotion.

"Weston, how do we know that she is who she says she is?"

"Because," Andrew replied with a cold edge, "it is not merely her that is saying so. I am telling you, Farrington."

Lord Farrington drew back warily at Andrew's tone, but there was still a question in his eyes. Theo could see that.

"It is the princess," Lady Humphries confirmed. "I consider it my business to know the faces of such important members of society, royals included. Welcome back, Your Highness." She bowed her head toward Addie, and Farrington conceded.

"Your Highness," Lord Farrington said, almost regretfully, bowing his head toward Addie. "We could not be more pleased that you are alive and joining us. While this is nothing short of astounding news, I'm now more curious than ever to hear your plans, old man." He lifted his brows cheekily at Andrew.

"I second Lord Farrington's sentiments as well," Lord Trotten said, also bowing his head toward Addie, ignoring Theo's continued glare.

"Well," Andrew forged ahead, "the first thing that we can collectively do is determine what our goals are for the—"

Clemonte laughed, interceding Andrew's words. "We all know that you have all of that figured out, Andrew. And I'll be damned if we all don't agree on it. We are meeting on the cusp of a foolish royal marriage, one that none of us wish to happen. And that is merely the beginning of Ernest's poor decisions. We are all aware of what we want." He leaned forward, lowering his voice a bit. "The question we wish to know is, what are we going to do about it?"

Andrew didn't deny the baron's words, nor did he seem bothered by being cut off. "We need the attention and audience of both the public and the monarchy. And now we have the one thing that will make them all listen."

"If you tell the world that she is alive right now, there will be a target on her back," Theo growled.

It seemed briefly like Andrew was going to roll his eyes. Because of course he already knew that.

"We will maintain anonymity by using the papers. Why not publish what they need to know? Five separate articles, authored, for the public to see, by the princess herself. This way, we may garnish the attention we need without ever truly revealing Her Highness or ourselves in the process. The people would know she is alive, but they wouldn't know where she is, or of her disguise."

"But they would look for her," Theo pointed out. "And one of the first places they will look is with you."

"Yes, they would likely search for her," Andrew agreed. "But she will not be anywhere near me. Ideally, I think she should move her residence to Lord Trotten's home, as they would never check there."

Theo was standing then. "Absolutely not. Not in one million years would I ever let her live with the man that defiled and ruined my sister."

"Theo—" Andrew began, but Lord Trotten intervened, finally standing to meet Theo.

"No, Weston, I deserved that," he spoke quietly to Andrew before directing his attention toward Theo. "I think before we go any further you all need to understand something. Especially Kingfield. The only reason that I have ever shown support for King Ernest and his policies is due to a delicate nature of which I cannot further explain, except for saying that I was blackmailed to do so."

They all stared at Lord Trotten as he calmly sat back down in the wake of his daring confession.

Theo was the first to speak, unconvinced by Trotten's act. "And were you also blackmailed to break your engagement with Emilia?" Trotten did not answer the question. His lips drew into a tight line. So Theo continued, "Blackmail or no, Adelaide is not going to live with him. She may stay with me."

Andrew merely shrugged. "Is this agreeable with you, Your Highness?"

Addie nodded.

"Adelaide would need to keep her position in your household for appearances. And while the articles are being published, you and I will need to keep our distance publicly," Andrew said earnestly.

"What's the endgame here, Andrew?" Lord Clemonte asked, as bold as ever.

Andrew sighed deeply. "For this to work, we will need all of your support." He gave each of them a telling glance. "And I should expect the people will take care of the rest. Demands will be made. Or cries for Adelaide to rule. And eventually, King Ernest will be forced to do either one of two things: meet the demands of the public, hopefully in our favor, or invite the princess to the palace."

"And why would he do that?"

"To show to the public that he is willing to consider her legitimacy, even if he is not, in truth. And it would also help determine whether she is really alive."

"Except it won't," Theo cut in. "Because she would never go. That would be suicide."

"I'll likely have to work with them eventually if we wish to accomplish anything here," Addie said, and Theo's stomach clenched at the sound of her voice. "And to do that might mean putting our trust in something, or someone, we do not wish to. But if the meeting was public knowledge, I doubt they would try to hurt me. It would be too obvious."

"For this to work, we need the people to understand that Adelaide is not seeking to overthrow the throne, only influence it. And we need King Ernest to believe it too," Andrew explained further.

"Are we sure that isn't what we want?" Lord Trotten asked.

"To overthrow the throne?"

Lord Trotten nodded at Addie. "She is the Queen of England."

Good God, Theo thought in alarm.

She was the Queen of England.

"I think," Addie began slowly, "that if we can bring some stability to this constitutional monarchy without creating a war for the throne in England, then should we not begin there?"

"And if they do not believe it? That you are not attempting to de-throne Ernest?" Theo asked, running his fingers through his hair.

"Then I would imagine we'd have to turn the tables," Lord Trotten answered.

Theo glowered. "How about we throw you over the table?" he mumbled. He was surprised with a chuckle from Addie.

"If they do not believe it, and they refuse to cooperate with Adelaide peacefully, then yes," Andrew said, pointedly. "I suppose we will."

"Are we certain the people will support changes?" Lord Farrington questioned.

"There will be some who oppose. But I choose to believe there are those who understand that we cannot fight progress. Personally, it is my nature to oppose change, but it is the nature of humankind to change indefinitely." Andrew paused, thinking. "Many are unhappy with the direction that has been taken over the past few years. Over the direction he is planning to take. The people are with us," he finished, a note of certainty in his voice.

The room grew quiet in the wake of his words. They filled the air, power and determination growing amongst them. Lady Humphries' sharp voice cut through their collective thoughts.

"I wish to know what Her Highness thinks about all of this," she said with careful precision.

Addie raised her gaze to meet that of Lady Humphries' and then surprised Theo when she laughed lightly. "What I think?" she asked.

"Yes," Lady Humphries continued. "Are you ready to be brought into the public eye? To face the danger, face your enemies? To work beside them? And all of that without being on the throne at the end?"

Addie paused, considering the questions. Her thoughtful expression was pure and innocent, and Theo longed to whisk her away. To bring her back home with him, to stow her away from this.

But then, with unquestionable sureness that Theo wondered if she honestly felt, Addie responded.

"I do struggle, Lady Humphries. In all likeliness, my uncle is responsible for the death of my family, and I—" Addie's face twisted with a ferocity that stunned Theo. "I cannot help but despise him." She swallowed. "However, if I cannot put aside such hatred, then I would never be fit to lead this country anyway. If I never sit on that throne, I shall be alright. I was not born to lead. That was for my father and my brother. All I have ever wanted is to support their legacy. And if this is how I can do that, then I will have my peace."

And at that, Lady Humphries smiled.