trying to keep you safe.”
Harriet stiffened her shoulders.
Lady Althea’s insubordination was grating enough, but the faux concern and sneery tone of voice were the outside of enough.
“My brother said those words to you, Lady Althea?” she asked, managing to look down her nose at the lady, even though she was a head shorter than the towering brunette.
Lady Althea had the grace to blush.
“Well,” she hesitated. “He was just so terribly worried, Highness. You are, after all, the only princess. And Christopher—” she paused to twitter gratingly. “I mean, His Royal Highness, was quite beside himself.”
Harriet didn’t quite know what to make of this little speech.
Althea reached out a hand and placed it on Harriet’s elbow as though they were close confidantes, ignoring Jacob completely.
“He wouldn’t have betrayed such a scandalous secret to anyone else, I’m sure, Your Highness. But he knows how much I would worry. I have come to think of you as a sister of sorts. And I know your brother wouldn’t have trusted anyone else to treat this situation with the delicacy it so clearly requires.”
The barb behind Lady Althea’s sycophantic words wasn’t lost on Harriet. Her behaviour was scandalous. Shameful. Needed delicate handling.
And if Christopher had taken Althea into his confidences like that, it could only mean that he was planning on making the lady a part of the royal family. He would never discuss private family matters with the lady otherwise.
But if Christopher had sent Jacob to watch Harriet, why had he sent Althea now?
“Why don’t we go and have a nice cup of tea?” Lady Althea spoke as though they were lifelong friends, and it was annoying in the extreme. “And I’ll instruct the driver to prepare the horses.”
“I don’t think so.”
Jacob’s voice was pleasant enough, but Harriet heard the thread of steel in it, and she was sure Lady Althea could hear it, too.
Althea raised a brow at Jacob.
“And you are?” she sniffed.
“The Honourable Mr. Jacob Lauer, son of the Count of Dresbonne, at your service my lady.”
Jacob was polite and gentlemanly, bowing to Lady Althea, but Harriet saw the glint of mischief in the blue depths of his eyes, and knew he was enjoying subtly putting the lady in her place.
“Oh, h-how nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Lauer,” Althea said weakly. “And what are you doing here with our dear Princess Harriet alone?”
Harriet heard the emphasis on the word alone and knew what Althea was implying; that there was something of an intimate nature between Harriet and Jacob.
The kicker was that Harriet had thought so, too. As it turned out, Jacob was just a consummate actor, and good at his job.
This sharp reminder of Harriet’s foolishness and humiliation at Jacob’s hands fuelled her resentment once more.
“I am escorting the princess back to the palace and to Prince Christopher,” Jacob answered smoothly.
“And why is that? You just happened upon her, did you?” Althea sneered.
Jacob didn’t answer, merely watched the lady closely.
“Well, I’m sure the princess will feel more comfortable in the company of a lady,” Lady Althea said. “Someone she trusts.”
Jacob’s jaw clenched in reaction to Althea’s words, and he turned his cobalt gaze on Harriet.
She knew, without him even speaking, that he was waiting for her to argue. To say she wanted to stay with him.
And because that was true, she needed to leave.
“Thank you, Mr. Lauer. But your assistance is no longer required,” she mumbled miserably, refusing to meet his gaze. “Lady Althea is right. I would rather go with someone I trust.”
She didn’t look into his eyes, and she didn’t give him a chance to respond.
Leaving her bags in the gig, Harriet simply turned and walked away.
Chapter Nineteen
“Your Highness, do wake up. Honestly, I thought you’d be far more interesting company than this.”
Harriet was roughly shaken awake, and she sat up with a jolt, wondering for a moment where she was.
It all came flooding back to her within seconds, however. And at the same time, Lady Althea’s words registered.
Harriet could only stare in shock at the other woman’s audacity.
“I beg your pardon?” she gasped.
Lady Althea smiled. But rather than it be the fawning smile she used in Court, and especially around Christopher, it was cold and calculated and didn’t reach her eyes.
“What exactly is going on here?” Harriet demanded.
Something didn’t feel right about this.
She looked out the carriage window, surprised to see that it was dark. Wherever they were, they’d been travelling for some time.
“Why, I’m taking you somewhere safe, Princess.”
“I don’t think so.” Harriet sat up fully, wide