Chapter 39

She lay upon his chest, gazing into his eyes. He reached up and wove his fingers into her hair, which loosed it from its careful configuration, spilling her dark curls over both their faces. She kissed him like I’d never seen her kiss King Leopold before. He closed his eyes.

“How much longer?” he whispered. “You can have no idea how I suffer.”

“Nor can you imagine my pain,” she replied. “Only a few more hours.”

“The ship’s captain will marry us,” the bandit said, “or he’ll feel a ball in his chest.”

Marry us?

“You’re too quick with weapons, Ronnie,” she teased. “You need me to civilize you.”

His deep laugh filled the room. “I’ll enjoy watching you try.” He pulled her close for another kiss. “What about the girl?”

She traced her fingers around the buttons on his shirt. “Evelyn? What about her? She’s not coming along.”

I covered my mouth with my hand.

“She’s dangerous,” he said. “She recognizes me from the coach.”

“Nonsense,” Annalise said. “She never once spotted you at the soiree.”

“When I was dressed as a servant,” he scoffed. “I nearly dropped a fish fillet down her dress, and she still didn’t notice. But two nights ago she saw me at the masquerade. Today at the wedding, she spotted me again.”

Annalise frowned. “I told you it was reckless of you to come to the wedding. There were guests here from Danelind. You could have been seen! Shame on you.”

“I had to watch,” he growled. “I had to see that stupid, stuffed-up Leopold thinking he had made you his. It will help me, tonight, when I finish what we’ve started.”

“But you could have been seen!”

“So what if I was?” he said. “Why shouldn’t the prince of Danelind attend the wedding of the Pylandrian king and the Merlian princess? Father’s always saying I don’t tend well enough to my diplomatic duties.”

Prince Ronald of Danelind? I cycled my mind back to my geography studies. Danelind. Ronald. He was … second in line to the throne of our former enemy to the north. What was brewing here? More than an illicit liaison … 

“Oh, Ronnie, stop,” she said. “I nearly died when I saw you there in the church. Don’t gamble like that with our future.”

“If I weren’t a gambler, we wouldn’t be here,” was his reply. “I was gambling when I won your heart in the first place.”

“And I’m bringing two kingdoms with me for a dowry,” Annalise said. “Merlia is mine, and tonight, Pylander will be too.” She kissed him again, long and slow. Then she sighed. “If only you hadn’t robbed that silly coach in the first place.” Annalise tutted with her tongue. “Killing the driver? I ask you! What could be more foolish?”

“Leave my methods to me,” Ronald said, with an edge in his voice. “I told you before. Father won’t give me a drop of money past my allowance. Hiring those Rovarians and buying their silence wasn’t cheap.” His anger cooled. “A circus! Quite the cover, no? As it was, I didn’t make much selling the coach and team. But I found money in other ways.”

Annalise said nothing for a moment, but stroked his hair. “You need me to look after you, Ronnie.” She raised her body a bit, with a new thought. “Did I tell you? I had a clever idea to bring a pair of actor brothers on board tonight. It was actually Evelyn who suggested it. But it’s perfect. Throws less suspicion on us bringing the circus aboard in the first place.”

“Brothers?” the prince said. “They could get in the way.”

“Not them.” Annalise laughed. “They’re a pair of imbeciles.”

“It’s your little pet I’m worried about,” Ronnie said.

“Who, Bijou? I’ve told you, he’s not a pet.”

“No. Not your killer cobra. Your little protégé. Elizabeth?”

“Oh, Ronnie, leave Evelyn to me,” Annalise said. “She’s one of my kind. I only need time to work on her. She’ll be an ally. Be patient.”

My stomach churned. I felt sick at her betrayal. Was this where all her friendship and kindness pointed?

“She could destroy all before we’ve even started.” He sat up so that Annalise slipped off his chest and landed on the bed. “She’s a risk. You tell me not to gamble with our future, and then you keep her around.”

She ran her hand over his chest, his shoulders. “You’re ten times the man Leopold could ever be,” she whispered. “Rest easy, my love. I’ll keep her in my sights today.” She made a motion to get up. “I’d better get back before they send a search party to find me. Where will you wait?”

“I could wait here,” he mused, and my heart sank into my stomach. Please, no.

“Better not,” Annalise said, and it was the first good thing she’d said. “One of the girls might come here looking for something. Just wait with the circus performers.” She laughed. “I can’t wait to see you in your costume.”

“I can’t wait much longer for this to be done,” Ronnie said.

“Tonight, my love.” She lingered for another kiss. “You only need wait for tonight.”