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26SPENCERHer long brunette hair and piercing green eyes were impossible to ignore. We worked together at a stuffy law firm, but tonight we were both attending a work party at my boss’s mansion. I saw her standing alone in the garden, taking in the fresh air, and I knew this was my chance.“Hey, Anne,” I said, approaching her slowly. “Mind if I join you?”She turned to me with a small smile. “Sure, Spencer. It’s a beautiful night.”We stood in silence for a moment, taking in the sounds of the crickets and the rustling of the leaves. I couldn’t take it any longer, I had to make my move.“Anne, I have to be honest with you. I’ve had a crush on you for a while now.”Her smile grew wider. “Really? I had no idea.”“I just had to tell you. You’re so beautiful and smart, I can’t help but be drawn to you.”She bit her lip, looking up at me through her lashes. “I think you’re pretty great too, Spencer.”Before I knew it, our lips were pressed together, our tongues dancing as we kissed under t
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27ADRAINThe Duke’s mansion loomed before us, an imposing structure that seemed to frown down upon us with its gargoyle-laden facade. Annalisa, ever the optimist, skipped ahead, a cheerful bounce in her step. Me? I couldn’t help but feel a sliver of apprehension gnaw at my insides.Her father, the Duke du Wales, was a man of formidable reputation. A decorated war hero, a stern leader, and, according to Annalisa’s whispered warnings, not exactly known for his warm and fuzzy personality. The thought of facing him, seeking his approval (or at least, tolerance) made my palms slick with sweat.We entered the grand hall, a cavernous space adorned with gleaming suits of armor and battle standards. A faint scent of leather and polish hung in the air. Annalisa, bless her heart, squeezed my hand reassuringly.“Don’t worry, Adrian,” she murmured, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Just remember, you’re a war hero too. You practically have ‘imposing’ written all over you.”I couldn’t help but snor
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28ANNALISAA jolt rattled the carriage, sending a jolt of surprise through me. I glanced out the window, expecting to see a particularly nasty pothole, but the dusty road stretched out before us, smooth and uneventful. However, a prickling unease wormed its way into my stomach.“Did you feel that, Father?” I asked, frowning.The Duke, engrossed in a stack of parchment documents, barely looked up. “Feel what, child?”“A bump,” I elaborated. “Or a wobble, perhaps. The carriage seems a little… unsteady.”He grunted noncommittally, muttering something about overly sensitive stomachs and the perils of travelling after a large breakfast. I bristled. My stomach wasn’t sensitive, and the wobble – if that’s what you wanted to call it – had been quite distinct.Ignoring his dismissive tone, I pressed on. “But Father, shouldn’t we at least have the coachman check it out? It could be a loose wheel or something.”He finally met my gaze, a hint of annoyance flickering across his features. “Annalis
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29SPENCERA manic grin stretched across my face as the rumble of the carriage grew fainter in the distance. My plan was unfolding beautifully. That rickety old bridge, weakened by my “subtle” tinkering, wouldn’t stand a chance under the weight of the Duke’s carriage. Annalisa and the old goat – poetic justice, wouldn’t you say? – would be taking an unexpected swim in the river below.Images of sprawling estates and overflowing coffers danced in my head. Freedom. Luxury. A life of leisure spent on the beaches of distant lands, far away from the dusty confines of Kano. Me, Spencer Cavendish, finally living the life I deserved.A twig snapped under my foot, shattering the blissful reverie. Anne emerged from the shadows, her eyes gleaming with a devilish amusement that mirrored my own.“Well, Spencer,” she drawled, her voice dripping with satisfaction, “did the bridge cooperate?”“Cooperate?” I scoffed. “It practically rolled out the welcome mat for them.” I couldn’t resist a theatrical
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30ANNALISEMy arms were crossed so tightly they were starting to resemble pretzels. Dad, on the other hand, looked like a kicked puppy – all droopy eyes and slumped shoulders. We were in a stalemate, the kind that usually involved a silent treatment lasting for days (a record was two weeks, fueled by a particularly disastrous attempt at a soufflé on my part). This time, however, the silence crackled with electricity.“But Dad,” I finally burst out, unable to contain myself any longer, “it’s a prince! A literal prince!”He sighed, a sound that seemed to deflate him further. “Annalise, honey, there’s more to life than tiaras and carriages.”“But isn’t that kind of the point?” I countered, throwing my hands up in exasperation. “It’s a chance to, you know, do something grand! Make a difference!”Dad snorted, a dry, humorless sound. “The only difference you’ll be making is the colour of your bank account, sweetheart. And trust me, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the other side of fa
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31SPENCERI saw Anne stumbling in, looking exhausted. We had been on a wild goose chase, searching for the duke and Annalise, and it seemed like we had finally called it quits for the night.“Spencer, I’m so glad to be back,” Anne said, flopping down on the bed next to me. “I don’t know if I can go on with this any longer.”I looked over at her, taking in her disheveled appearance and the exhaustion etched on her face. I knew how she felt; the past few days had been grueling, and we had yet to find any trace of the duke and Annalise.“Hey, it’s okay,” I said, reaching out to brush a strand of hair out of her face. “We’ll figure something out. But for now, why don’t we take a break and relax?”Anne nodded, her eyes heavy-lidded. “That sounds like a good idea.”I moved closer to her, our bodies pressing together as I began to kiss her neck. I could feel her relax into me, her breathing becoming slower and deeper. I trailed kisses down to her collarbone, nibbling gently on the skin ther
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32ANNALISAThe world swam around me, a kaleidoscope of throbbing pain and disorientation. My head pounded like a drum solo gone horribly wrong, and the metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The carriage… the crash… it all came flooding back in a sickening wave.Disoriented, I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings. We were at the bottom of a steep embankment, the mangled wreckage of the carriage lying testament to our violent descent. Dad, thankfully, was stirring beside me, a groan escaping his lips.Relief flooded me, warm and sweet. He was alive! But judging by the way he winced as he tried to sit up, alive wasn’t exactly synonymous with spry.“Dad!” I cried, scrambling towards him, ignoring the searing protest from my own ankle.“Annalise?” he rasped, his voice weak. “What happened?”“The carriage,” I explained, my voice shaking. “It went out of control.” Thankfully, the darkness veiled the expression on my face, hiding the fear that threatened to consume me. Who was
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33ADRAINFEW HOURS AGOFrustration gnawed at me like a particularly persistent rat. I’d lost Annalise. One minute she was strolling down the flower-lined path, the next, she was a wisp of lavender chiffon disappearing into the night. Poof! Gone like a magician’s disappearing act, only without the applause (or the cute bunny in a top hat).Kicking at a pebble with unnecessary force, I retraced my steps, grumbling under my breath. My mission to win Annalise’s heart, it seemed, had hit a rather large snag. Not to mention, I now had a very disgruntled Duchess breathing down my neck.Speaking of disgruntled Duchesses, the imposing figure of Her Royal Highness Camilla, Duchess of Wales, materialized in front of me, her posture as rigid as a Buckingham Palace guard. This wasn’t exactly the meet-cute I had envisioned.“Mr. Adrain,” she began, her voice laced with an icy disdain that could curdle milk at fifty paces. “A word, if you please.”I swallowed, forcing down a sarcastic retort. It pr
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