The man is an ass in person, and even more awkward when it comes to seducing a woman in writing.I don’t even feel bad that I laughed at him in the future when I read them.In fact, when I get back, I might need to write a paper on the letters, just to publicize them some more.Maybe someone will make a movie about how bad he is at seduction, and how disloyal a friend he is.
But even though I can’t tell him that or I’ll face very uncomfortable questions, it does calm down my panic slightly.No one here is perfect, and I know more about them than just about everyone else now or in the future.
I can use this to keep me safe.
Or get me burned at the stake.Sure, they’ve stopped doing that, but I don’t want to be the reason they start it up again.
“Yes.That must be it.I am supremely unimportant.”I smile at him like an amenable pod person, trying to look as harmless and unimportant as we just established I was.He’s taken aback by my easy agreement.
Charles clears his throat.“Still, unimportant though you are?—”
Great, I am definitely going to need to talk to a therapist after this.Not only because I thought I time travelled, but because my self-esteem is suffering here.
“It is very unusual for the Queen to make arrangements without telling her staff.Perhaps we should call her over and verify some of the particulars of this…story.”He sniffs derisively after the word, leaving me no doubt as to what he thinks about me and my story, as he turns to call Victoria over.
That would be bad.Why did Leo have to name-drop the Queen?Maybe he thought the audacity of the lie would carry me through, but it’s not working out that way.
“How is Lady Dumfries these days?”I say in a panic, tossing out anything that will stop him from looking at me.
What the hell?I’m not usually so reckless and mean, but it’s desperate times.And, Madiera.It might be watered down, but you can just drink more and then it’s like it was a normal strength.Which is what I did.
The man turns an interesting shade of red.And puffs up like a balloon.It’s fascinating to watch.“Why would you ask me that?Go ask her husband if you want to know.”
“My mistake.I thought you two werefriendly.”I say the last word with as much lascivious implication as I can, like my life depends on how salacious I can make this word sound.And it might.
And people say there’s no use for history.How do you like me now?
“You are mistaken.And I’ll thank you to not mention our names together again.It could only hurt the good lady.”He rushes off without getting my promise that I won’t say anything else, and without asking me any more questions.
Oh, could it hurther?You’re so concerned with her?Or could it hurtyourimage as a family man when you try to run for Prime Minister in this morally conservative time?
“What mischief was that about?”Leo asks, not understanding what happened in the last minute.
“I thought I saw him talking to her earlier, that’s all.I don’t do mischief,” I say.Although if you’d asked me ten minutes ago, I would have said I don’t do blackmail either.Yet here we are.My morals the first thing to go in a desperate situation.
“You just need more practice.”
“That I do not need.What I need is a place to stay.”Charles did remind me that I have no idea what to do when this party ends.He’s also still glaring at me from across the room.But away from Victoria, so I don’t think he confronted her about my lie.Yet.
The walls of this situation are slowly closing in on me, and the smart course of action would be to get out of the room.
Leo sighs.“I thought we were going to ignore worries for the night?”
“That might be easy for you to do, but my quickly upcoming future is about to punch me in the face if I don’t figure this out.”
“Yes, I suppose my own worries are getting harder and harder to ignore as well.”He looks around like whatever caused that cryptic comment is going to jump out at him from behind some silk curtains and club him with responsibility.Then he snaps his eyes back to me.“But we shall fix this for you.If you refuse to have any more fun until your present problems are solved, we shall solve them.I have an idea.”
“It’s not going to be that easy.”
“Of course it is.”Leo takes my hand without any input from me and tugs me where he wants to go.
Which appears to be right toward Victoria.
CHAPTER5
Itry to put the brakes on, backpedaling so we don’t go toward the most powerful person in the room.The person I’ve already lied to and about tonight.And the person who can throw me in a dungeon.Because she has multiple dungeons.
She wouldn’t do it herself obviously.She’s a pixie grandmother who is about four inches shorter than me, but she can order an entire armed guard to do it.A whole country, if it comes to it.
