While people took the note and compared it to something James had just been writing, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Helena stood right behind me, expression pensive but with this little spark of mischief flirting around her mouth.
“Edwin, I think we need to have a little tête-à-tête.”
I nodded grimly, already guessing where she was going.
“We need to plan on how to get this bitch out of here,” Helena continued. “How about we start by making her life as miserable and inconvenient as possible?”
Her mischief bloomed brighter, my own anticipation rising to the mark. “You’ve got ideas?”
“I do,” she purred.
“Then by all means, let’s hear them.” I glanced about and sighed. “No more work is going to happen today, I can assure you.”
I’d likely be staying at my house again tonight, because my lover would be too nervous in the palace to sleep. The least I could do to while away the time was think of how best to exact some revenge.
Just because I couldn’t prove it was Valentina didn’t mean I couldn’t retaliate.
Sixty-two
James
I sat in my chair in my office the next day and tried to figure out a plan.
After the whole fiasco yesterday, I’d sat with Helena and Edwin and tried to come up with a plan on how to get rid of this threat. I wasn’t very effective, as having Edwin nearly poisoned had rattled me badly. Even knowing how it happened and having safeguards to prevent its repetition could only soothe my heart so much. I hadn’t slept well last night as a result, plagued by nightmares that had chased me until Edwin poured a sleeping draught down my throat.
Which was really the only sensible approach. I’d have been sleep deprived and useless today otherwise.
Still, a statement Edwin had made during the plotting yesterday stuck with me, like sharp glass in my throat. He’d said with this first ploy of Valentina’s, the odds of her being responsible for his death in the first life were high, by his estimation.
I’d wanted to argue, as Valentina had been in prison when we left for battle. But, well, she’d been locked in her rooms here at the palace and still managed to get poison into Edwin’s candy, so…I couldn’t dismiss the possibility. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of the idea sooner. My focus had been on those around us, and certainly someone had been Valentina’s hand, if she was behind it. But I hadn’t considered her as the true mastermind. I’d had too much faith in iron bars incapacitating her.
There wasn’t anything I could do about his death in my past life, of course, but I’d be damned before I let Valentina have a second go at my Edwin.
Clearly, Valentina would also not take no for an answer. I still couldn’t believe she’d shown up in a negligee and tried to barge into my rooms. Apparently fifteen-year-old Valentina was just as audacious as her twenty-year-old self.
Edwin had handled the situation beautifully. There might be some complaints about it, but she’d done nothing to warrant respect. Tossing her out on her ear was well within his rights, and I backed him one hundred percent. Still, how did I get her to stop such attempts? How did I get it through to her, my adoptive parents, and anyone else siding with them that I wouldnevermarry her? I’d rather be executed. I wasn’t being facetious. I would literally rather be in my grave than married to her.
For all our plotting yesterday, we had no easy answer for how to get rid of her completely. Unfortunately, she was protected by court laws and etiquette. When a foreign princess came to visit, it took something serious to force her home again. Right now, I couldn’t prove anything except the seduction attempt, which wasn’t serious enough, sadly.
Heavy boots treaded to my desk before stopping. “Your Highness?”
I looked up at Captain Rowan’s face and straightened in my chair. “Captain. What is it?”
“I figured out how Princess Valentina got into your rooms the other night. I apologize for the delay. The poisoning attempt and its prevention took precedence.”
“Understandable. So? How did she do it?”
“She apparently bribed a staff member into sneaking her into your wing. It was clever how she went about it. She went to the floor above yours and then was let down via a window into your hallway. We’ve since closed off all access to the wing in its entirety. I’m so sorry, Your Highness. Both Alloways and Pedan feel awful and are willing to receive any punishment you wish to dole out.”
I was peeved because this shouldn’t have happened. I also had faith they’d learn from this mistake and never make it again, so I wouldn’t remove them from their position. But a punishment was in order. “They will take half-pay for the next month and cover any shift changes that happen for the next three months. That’s punishment enough in my books. Thank you for figuring it out and plugging the hole. What about the staff member?”
“Fired. I reported the incident to Harland, and he fired the man on the spot. I won’t tolerate anything less than absolute loyalty to you.”
For the first time that morning, I had a genuine smile. “Thank you.”
Another visitor entered the office, and he did not look pleased to be there. Ramsey bowed and said apologetically, “Queen Beatrice and King Patrick request your presence. Immediately.”
Couldn’t say I was surprised. “Just mine?”
