took a blade here. Not deep, mind you, but in the king’s mind, I was the only one who stood between him and death.”
“I hadn’t heard he’d been threatened last year.” Letty kept herself abreast of the news by reading the Times, the Post, and even Ackermann’s Repository of Arts.
“It was an incident that was kept quiet. There were few witnesses, and those who saw it were convinced to remain quiet. I believe that was the first time the king had ever faced death, at least in such a frightening manner, and it made an impression on him.”
“I imagine it would.” Letty fell into silence for a long while, her mind now filled with worries and concerns. They were headed back to London, a place they shouldn’t go, where her life was more in danger, as was Adam’s. But a king’s command could not be ignored.
Adam was troubled too; she saw it in his distant gaze. After a while, she moved to join him on the seat. He clasped her hand in his, though she sensed his thoughts were miles away.
It was shortly after midday when they reached Adam’s townhouse on HalfMoon Street. There they met Mr. Shelton, the underbutler who handled the townhouse while Mr. Sturges was at Chilgrave.
“My lord! We did not expect you back so soon,” Mr. Shelton said. He was close to Sturges in age, in his midforties, and he seemed quite as capable. Letty had not met him officially, but Caroline had told her about him before they’d left.
“I’m sorry, Shelton. It’s quite unexpected. We require a quick luncheon, and Lady Morrey and her maid will need to be settled into their rooms.”
“Yes, my lord.” Shelton bowed and turned to her. “This way, my lady.” He led her up the stairs to Adam’s bedchamber. The servants quickly put away the clothes from Letty and Adam’s valises.
Letty took a minute to familiarize herself with yet another new room. The past few days had been far too much for her in many ways. She had only just started to settle down at Chilgrave, and now she had a new house and new servants as well.
“You look quite exhausted, lady wife,” Adam said as he joined her in the room. Mina and Helms quickly left to give them some privacy.
She sat back on the bed. “I am. It is silly, though.”
Adam closed the door and came over to her at the foot of the bed. He was unbearably handsome just then. She was quite besotted simply looking at him.
“Are you all right? I understand it must be difficult to jump about like this.”
“It is unsettling,” she admitted. “But I am more nervous about meeting the king this evening.”
“You need not be. The man is not perfect, but he is decent as a monarch.” Adam placed his hands on her shoulders and leaned in to whisper, “This evening after dinner, you and I shall finally have time to become better acquainted in our bed.”
“That would be nice,” she murmured.
He leaned in, kissing her in a way that made her head tilt back and her toes curl.
“Now, come down for lunch, and we shall rest a bit before dressing for dinner.”
Adam knew he was being a little distant. He could sense Letty’s concern growing during their lunch, and so he’d sent her to rest for a few hours before they had to leave. It had given him time to think, to plan, and to worry. The king’s invitation couldn’t have come at a worse time. There were a hundred things that could go wrong.
When she was ready, his wife appeared at the top of the stairs, and the sight of her stole his breath. She wore a gown of creamy pale satin with a gold underskirt and a glittering gold frill collar about her neck. Her capped sleeves were dotted with soft, shimmering pearls, and her bodice matched the gold underskirt. The design was not overly complex, yet the soft cream and bright gold, enhanced with the pearls on her fuller court skirts, had the most stunning effect. Her dark hair was piled atop her head, with a few loose curls escaping to rest against her cheeks and down the back of her neck. And there in the coils of her gleaming hair was the Morrey coronet.
His wife looked like a queen.
Letty paused at the bottom of the stairs. “Do you think His Majesty will approve?” she asked.
Adam swallowed and nodded. “He will. And I shall be glad Princess Charlotte