“Of course, Father,” Hannah agreed.
Evelyn crossed her arms. “Women aren’t allowed in your secret meeting?”
Six heads spun toward her.
“No,” Lord Stuart said. “You aren’t needed.”
Nicolas kicked Evelyn lightly under the table, a reminder that she was not allowed to set lords on fire. “I’m sure we won’t be long.”
The men left the dining room and headed upstairs.
“Do you always have to be so abrasive?” Hannah accused.
“Don’t be such a princess,” Evelyn hissed.
“I won’t be much longer.”
Evelyn flung a piece of toast at her sister, who shrieked at the butter stain on her dress.
I shouldn’t have done that. Father will tell me off later. But… Hannah can’t become a queen here. She can’t marry Leo.
Evelyn made it to the second floor in time to see which room the men were entering. She put a finger over her lips, warning Rory and Simon not to make any noise. After handing her shoes to a confused Simon, she tiptoed silently down the hallway.
Thankfully, the men hadn’t bothered to close the meeting room door all the way. Evelyn couldn’t see them, but their voices carried into the hall.
“It doesn’t feel right to focus on this right now,” Leo muttered.
“I know the timing is atrocious,” Lord Grégory said. “But it’s only increased the necessity.”
“You would double your magic, Alexander,” Lord Robert reminded him. “Access to Elemental power is a game-changer.”
“Even General Savatier admits he doesn’t know what we’re up against,” Lord Stuart added. “A variety of magic gives you much better odds in case of an attack.”
“The plan to marry was already in place,” Lord Grégory said. “That’s why the Connollys are here. All we’re doing is moving up the timeline.”
“The Kennedy girls weren’t old enough to get married,” King Tristan told them. “Their deaths were tragic and Carrowmore still mourns the loss. But the gods have given us an opportunity here.”
“That’s a good point,” Lord Stuart chimed in. “Three months ago, this wasn’t even a possibility.”
“Princess Hannah seems like a sweet girl,” Lord Grégory said. “She will make a lovely queen.”
“Hannah is ready to get married,” King Tristan stated. “She understands why she’s here.”
Everyone went quiet, presumably waiting for Leo’s response. But he didn’t share his thoughts.
“I may be out of the loop,” Lord Nicolas said, “but what about the younger princess?”
“Evelyn!” Lord Robert called out. “I quite like her. She’s a spitfire, that one.”
“I thought she was seeing Captain Fontaine?” Lord Grégory asked.
“I don’t think they’re together,” Lord Nicolas said.
“Well, they haven’t made that very clear,” Lord Stuart sneered. “It isn’t appropriate for her to be so friendly with my son and marry a king.”
“She would be a queen!” Lord Robert argued. “Fuck what people say!”
“The goal is to gain power by marrying a Carrowmore princess,” Lord Grégory reasoned. “Technically, Princess Evelyn could fulfill that if Alexander prefers?—”
