awake now. “I’m going home.”
“Not just yet, Your Highness. There is work to be done first.”
Althea’s tone sent a slither of apprehension down Harriet’s spine.
“What is the meaning of this?” she asked, pleased that her voice sounded steady even if her heart was racing.
Immediately, Harriet’s mind went to Jacob, and she wished he were here. Wished she’d never left him. Regardless of anything else that had gone on between them, she’d always felt safe.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness,” Althea said in lieu of answering Harriet’s question. “Your cousin just needs to have a little chat with you.”
Now Harriet was really confused.
“My cousin?” she repeated with a frown.
“Indeed.”
“What cousin?” she asked in bewilderment.
“Why, the Duke of Tallenburg, of course.”
“The Duke of—”
“Tallenburg.”
“I know who he is,” Harriet gritted out.
The cousin who’d inherited his title from Harriet’s uncle. The cousin who had restarted an old feud in the Wesselbach family. The cousin with whom Christopher had been negotiating when the attempt was made to assassinate the king and queen, her parents.
“Why are you taking me to Augustus?” Harriet asked, her confusion growing by the second. “Why would Christopher send me to him?”
Althea’s tinkling laugh grated on Harriet’s already taut nerves. This was too much to deal with.
First, Jacob’s betrayal and now this?
“Oh, Princess. You really don’t understand the world around you, do you?”
Harriet only frowned.
Althea was older than her, true. But not by enough to be so terribly patronising.
“Augustus just needs to make sure that the prince will be more amenable to his requests.”
“His requests?”
Harriet felt like an idiot and for a moment, her long-held resentment burst forth.
If Father, and Christopher, and even Alex hadn’t treated her like a doll, an empty vessel who shouldn’t know anything about the world around her, maybe she could guess at what Althea could mean.
Althea sighed.
“You really have no idea, do you? Augustus just wants to reason with one member of the royal family. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. When the assassination attempt on your father didn’t create the distraction that he needed, we thought perhaps a simple trade agreement would suffice.”
“We?” Harriet repeated, her mind spinning from everything Althea was revealing. “I don’t understand. You and Christopher—I thought—”
“You thought that I was so desperately in love with your brother that I hung around him desperately hoping for a proposal,” Althea said bluntly. “Well, you’re not entirely wrong. In my youth, I would have done anything to marry your brother. And my parents certainly want it. But two years ago, I spent a summer in Tallenburg and met Augustus.” Harriet was amazed to see a blush stain Lady Althea’s cheeks. “In Aldonia, I might have been queen one day but with a man who would never truly care for me. But with Augustus—well, you haven’t yet fallen in love, Princess. But when you do, you’ll understand.”
Harriet very much doubted it. For she had fallen in love, and she still didn’t understand what was going on.
“Yet Christopher sent you to find me?”
Lady Althea smirked. “Not exactly. Ah, here we are.”
The carriage drew to a stop and the door was opened before Harriet had time to catch her breath, let alone ask Lady Althea any more questions.
Standing before her was a tall, slender man with the most chilling eyes Harriet had ever seen.
“Harriet. We meet at last.”
“I assume you’re my cousin?” Harriet made her voice as haughty as she could manage. “We might be related, but you are still only the duke of a small, insignificant duchy. You will address me as Your Highness.”
That was only the second time in her entire life that Harriet had insisted someone use her title. And whereas she’d done it with Jacob to cover her hurt, now it was in an effort not to appear intimidated by this cold, dark stranger.
His black eyes flashed with anger, but he maintained the small, insincere smile nonetheless.
“Of course, Your Highness.” He bowed deferentially, confusing Harriet even more.
Holding out a hand, he helped Lady Althea from the carriage first before turning to help Harriet.
Harriet didn’t miss that while Althea gazed adoringly at the duke, he barely even glanced in her direction.
“And what am I doing here?” Harriet continued in the condescending tone she’d adopted. “And where exactly is here?”
“I will answer all of your questions, of course. I must assure you that you are not in any danger, Princess. As long as everything goes as it should, this whole business should be done with in a matter of days.”
“This business being?”
His hand was still outstretched