Stealing Kisses With a King (Kings of Carolina #3)- Sylvie Stewart Page 0,77

looked as if he might spit on the floor of his office. “An oath that clearly meant nothing to him.”

I leaned my back against the wall in Trevor’s stark office, unsure what to do with this information. When he’d interrupted Alice and me arguing yesterday, he’d only said they were “working on it,” so I hadn’t expected him to drop this bombshell when he requested I stop by his office this morning. The investigation had turned up irrefutable evidence that Andrew had been the one to go to the press. My mind reeled at all the confidential information he’d been privy to all these years. Why now? And how had he worked it out? We’d been careful not to speak of it around anyone, and he’d only been present for one of the botched speeches. Oh, right. Victoria. Of course.

Alice and I still weren’t speaking, but her head would likely explode upon hearing this news about Andrew.

“And what about Victoria?” I asked. When I’d inquired about her yesterday, he’d put me off. But I hadn’t seen her since before we’d all gone rock jumping yesterday, so that was telling. Had it really only been yesterday I watched Alice leap into nothingness like a determined little flightless bird?

Trevor’s tone caught my attention as it turned cagey again. “Still working on that, sir.”

It seemed I’d have to settle for what he’d given me for now. “Why would Andrew choose now? Why would he pick this particular bit of information to share?”

“We’ll be conducting a second interview to determine more. He’s keen to cooperate now that he’s been caught in violation of his nondisclosure agreement as well as about a dozen other infractions. Best we can determine thus far is that he had a beef to settle with you.” Trevor eyed me and I tried my best not to look too guilty. “And this close to coronation, he could make you properly sweat. It was one thing when you were a prince, but now you’re about to be king.”

“He needs to learn how to take a joke.” I went for a bit of levity.

Trevor only frowned at that. Right. Too early.

“So what happens now?” I asked. Mother would be absolutely livid when she heard the news. I hoped I wouldn’t be the one responsible for telling her.

“You lot will continue working on your end of things while we continue to investigate. Then we’ll be cleaning house here at security.” Trevor’s tone reminded me of Sylvester Stallone vowing retribution in pretty much every movie he’s ever been in. It sounded decidedly unpleasant for everyone. “Rest assured, steps will be taken to punish anyone who may have played a part, and we’ll be doing a new round of precautionary measures to prevent this from ever happening again.”

I would have thought one look at Trevor’s mug would be enough to scare anyone straight, but I was sure he wouldn’t appreciate my opinion on the matter.

“Thank you, Trevor.” I extended my hand and he took it, nearly crushing my fingers with his overly-firm shake.

“Of course, sir.”

I turned to leave but paused in the doorway to look back. “Have you informed anyone else yet?”

He understood my meaning perfectly because a hint of a smile crossed his lips. “I thought I’d leave that up to you, sir.”

“Ah.” I could only nod and take my leave. I supposed this was a form of payment for my transgressions.

I sighed and made my way to the entrance of the building, managing to muster a wink for Adelaide but not exactly feeling it with the task ahead of me looming. It was best to rip it off like a bandage.

But surely even Trevor would agree that I was entitled to a whiskey to help prepare me.

“So… that went well.” Leo scratched his cheek as he strolled into the palace gym, clearly not dressed for a workout in his pressed trousers and button-down shirt.

I barked out a laugh, but only at his sarcastic trivialization of the events that had transpired half an hour earlier. “Spectacularly well,” I amended from my spot on the treadmill where I was all but gasping my way through a punishing run. A day like today called for the “strenuous” setting and I was a bit out of practice.

Leo and Clara had had the misfortune to be in the room when I broke the news to Mother and Father about Andrew’s betrayal. The queen’s first words in response were directed not at me, but at her aide, James. “James, could