I think she suspected I was up to something, as she curtsied then stared at me, a woman waiting for her mission.
“I did not give you this,” I started off, giving her a speaking look. “Nor did I order you to place it in Princess Valentina’s rooms. I absolutely didn’t tell you to do so and then promptly report to me, in an official capacity, that the princess of a foreign country has files she shouldn’t.”
Taking the three files from me, Tabitha regarded me quizzically. “I have no idea what you mean, Your Majesty, but I’ll be sure to alert any knights I see on the way back so the princess can’t escape before she is questioned.”
“I knew you were the woman for the job. Theater tickets?”
“Opera house?” she countered. “For four. My parents’ anniversary is coming up and I’d like to do something nice for them.”
“Consider it done.”
“How quickly do you need this done?”
I made a show of checking my pocket watch. “An hour enough time?”
She laughed. “More than enough. See you again shortly.”
Was this playing fair? Not at all. Was it necessary? Yes. I was out of fucks to give. I wanted this bitchgone. She’d caused James and myself enough stress. Her reign of terror could end the same day as Victor’s. I was quite all right with that.
Since I had a mountain of work to do, I returned to my office. Might as well put the time to use, and besides, I needed to look convincingly busy when Tabitha reported back. No one else but the two of us could catch on or my trick wouldn’t work. Well, Sir Seymour and Sir Collins knew, but they were also chortling like kids pulling off a prank, so they were on my side. It would be fine.
I became so focused on the work in my hands I actually startled at the knock on my open door.
“Er, Your Majesty?” Sir Seymour called from the doorway. “There’s a maid here who says she must urgently speak with you.”
Look at him, how factually he reported, and not even a twitch on his face. He had an excellent poker face. “Oh, of course, send her in.”
I checked my watch discreetly and pursed my lips in a soundless whistle. Thirty-four minutes. Tabitha had certainly moved with speed.
Tabitha was an actress who should have been on the stage; her expression was the perfect mixture of nerves and distress. She even wrung her hands. I didn’t know people did that? The action was absolutely convincing, though. I’d set her on this task, and I was still half convinced.
She certainly had the attention of everyone in the room. All had stopped their work, studying her with worry, as if wonderingwhat had happenedthistime. To be fair, we did seem to be jumping from crisis to crisis these days.
All right, me, match her acting chops. Let’s sell this story.
“Your Majesty, I’m so sorry to burst in like this, but I just saw something that I’m—I’m not sure if it’s right, but it…” She bit her lower lip and gave me a helpless shrug. “Your Majesty, is Princess Valentina supposed to have files with your office seal?”
People gasped, and a murmur tore through the room.
I hardened my expression. “No. No, she is not. Where did you see these files?”
“In her bedroom. I was in there refreshing the floral arrangements and saw them and I just…just rushed out to report it.”
“You absolutely did the right thing. Sir Seymour!”
Sir Seymour still hovered inside the doorway, and even he looked appalled. He straightened abruptly in a semi-salute. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Grab your colleagues. I need at least six knights. Tabitha, go and inform James of what’s transpired and tell him I’m throwing her outright now.”
I could just call him on the ring, of course, but this way I had more witnesses.
She gave me a dazzling smile and dropped a quick curtsey. “Immediately, Your Majesty!”
Tabitha left at a near run, and I stood, cautioning myself against smiling. Well, maybe a little smile. No one would blame me for being happy to finally kick Valentina out. I waved to my secretaries to keep going as I left the room, as I didn’t want anyone following me out and hearing the true story.
Still, I kept a serious expression on as I speed-walked for Valentina’s apartments. It took long minutes to get there, since she resided in the guest apartments on the far side of the palace.I got there with my knights and found the door closed. No sounds of a tantrum being thrown?
Had Tabitha sneaked the files inside and then left without a word to her? Seemed so.
