Page 26 of Unmasked

At his face sobering, my head shook. “I don’t know… Penelope?”

“No. I’m the one who called her.”

My lids narrowed. “You what?”

His hand shot up. “I’ll get there. So, I answered the phone, and to my surprise… it was the palace.”

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the desk. “The palace?”

“That’s right. It would appear King Lawrence wants to meet with me. In a few days, in fact.”

My jaw clenched, and I glance to The Reeve’s hard expression, coming back to Theodore.

“And instead of calling me, you called Penelope.”

It wasn’t a question.

“We had a bet.” His face drew in. “I should have probably called you first.”

“You think?”

He paused. “Well… I won. I told her this would happen. We’ve been on one date and he’s already asking me to come speak with him.” Theodore paused as knocking sounded. He stood, opening the door and grabbing the tray of sweets. He sat back down, balancing it at his chest as he popped a mini cake into his mouth, continuing.

“Out of all the countries, why doesn’t he choose someone else? Why keep it within our own? I hear the Princess of Sweden isn’t half bad. Denmark, but… no. The king is too vain. There are countless countries. Penelope isn’t even titled. I mean… she is gorgeous and she has the blood—” He swallowed, lifting a scone. “Ugh. Fine. They don’t compare. It’s extremely aggravating, isn’t it? Knowing your Intended was meant to be a queen? The perfect queen, really. I mean⁠—”

“Theodore. Eat. You talk way too much. I need silence.”

I stood, pacing.

“Reeve, humor me, because I’m wondering if I’m overthinking this.”

“You need an advisor,” Theo said, chewing the scone, already picking up another. “Can I⁠—”

“No. Redmond was my advisor. Perhaps…” I stopped, turning back to The Reeve. “What do you believe will come of the king’s meeting with Theodore?”

“He’s going to offer me my title back.”

My head whipped over, even though I was thinking the exact same thing.

“Did they say that?”

His head reared back as he gave me a look. “Of course not, but he’ll want to barter. He wants Penelope, and she keeps turning down his advances. I’m in the way. He’ll offer less at the beginning, of course. Maybe money. Property. I’m a barrister. I know how to negotiate. I will say no and give him my terms—my title. He will do it. I mean, he’s going to reinstate Penelope’s anyway. He’ll have to if he plans to marry her. But he’ll do it first to gain the public’s favor. He needs that more than anything, and society is already fascinated with her. That’s coming soon. I say within the next few weeks.” He smiled, his lips dusted with powdered sugar. “See. Advisor. Mark my words… Was I close to what you were thinking?”

“Pretty spot on.” I turned back to The Reeve. “What are we missing? Is there anything else we may not be considering or seeing?”

Ringing filled the study. I headed over, picking up my phone. My head was already shaking. Maybe because I knew.

“Penelope.”

“… It’s happened.”

“He wants to see you.”

Repeatedly, my jaw flexed as seconds passed. I gripped tightly to my phone continuing to pace.

“It’s worse.”

I jerked to a stop through the territorial possession that had me seeing red. “What do you mean?”