Hidden Knights

by Jennifer Anne Davis

  Most of Idina’s outfits were rather ostentatious. Reid combed through them until she found one that was solid green without any frills. The neckline was high, the sleeves long. It would do nicely. Taking the dress, she exited the closet.

  Ackley hadn’t moved. He sat there, blank faced.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing.”

  “I’ll see you at breakfast.” She exited the room, heading back to the bedchamber she was staying in. When she arrived, Dexter had already changed.

  She tossed the blanket on a chair. Stepping into the dress, she pulled it up to her waist. Now for the tricky part. Peering over at Dexter, she saw him studiously fixing the blankets and fluffing the pillows in an obvious effort not to watch her while she changed. She quickly pulled off her undershirt before sliding her arms into the sleeves of the dress, shimmying it onto her shoulders. “Um, can you help me?”

  He wiped his hands on his pants. “What do you need?”

  “Can you please tie the back for me?”

  Dexter’s hands went to her shoulders, twisting her so her back faced him. Heat radiated from his body. Licking her lips, she wondered why she was more nervous now than when lying in bed kissing him last night. He gently gathered her hair, setting it over her right shoulder. He trailed his hand up her bare back before pressing his lips against her lower neck. Heat seared down her spine.

  “I just pull the strings and knot them?” he asked, his voice husky, his breath tickling her.

  “Yes.” Oh, holy hell, her voice sounded all breathy. She was fully clothed, and all he’d done was kiss her. How could he have such an effect on her?

  He tugged the strings, cinching the back before tying it. “Finished.”

  “Now what?”

  “Now it’s time for us to save the kingdom.”

  Reid took Dexter’s hand, and they exited the room.

  Chapter Twelve

  While waiting for Gordon and the others to arrive with Ellington’s soldiers, Ackley, Dexter, and Reid spent the days strategizing. They came up with several plans on how to move forward, each one dependent on what Eldon may or may not do. The days passed quickly. At night, Reid and Dexter continued to sleep in the same bed, though all they did was kiss before falling asleep in each other’s arms.

  On the day word came Gordon had been spotted a few miles out, a letter arrived from the king.

  “What does it say?” Reid asked, biting the tip of her thumb.

  Ackley handed it to Dexter so he could read it for himself. “It basically says Dexter is in no position to make demands since Eldon is in possession of all the dukes.”

  Reid started pacing. They’d planned for this scenario. They knew several of the dukes had previously sided with Eldon. Was Eldon holding those dukes hostage as well? Or did they still side with him? That was what they needed to discover. “Have we heard anything from your men?” she asked Dexter.

  “No, not yet.”

  “Most of the counties supporting the king have soldiers stationed outside the city wall,” she mused.

  “Once we hear from the duchesses,” Ackley said, “we’ll know how to proceed. For now, I’m going to prepare for my brother and the Ellington soldiers.” He exited the sitting room.

  That was the question. Would the duchesses send troops to Eldon as he’d demanded? Or would they stand with Reid and fight? If the women did what their husbands told them, then those in favor of the king would send their soldiers. Not knowing where each county stood was the hardest part. Reid hoped the women would read her letter and decide on their own. She hoped they were strong and would stand with her.

  Dexter took a deep breath. “I’m glad I’m not here by myself.” He pushed off the edge of the table, standing before her. “Thank you for supporting me.”

  “We’re doing this for the people of this kingdom. They deserve better.”

  “I had no idea how northern Marsden was.”

  “No one here realizes how good things can be. I plan to change all that.”

  He kissed her forehead. “We will. I promise.”

  A red-faced Gordon entered the castle, Idina, Leigh, and Harlan behind him.

  “Welcome home,” Reid said, hugging Idina in the entryway.

  “It’s good to be home,” the princess said. “I never realized traveling with so many men would be so…tedious. I’m going to bathe.” With a flourish, Idina swept up the staircase.

  “Now that the three of you are safely deposited,” Gordon said, “I need to go finish up with Ackley over in the barracks.” He exited the castle.

  “Is he all right?” Dexter asked.

  “He’s never been one for words,” Leigh explained. “And he’s upset there are soldiers camped outside the city walls. He’ll calm down. Eventually.” Leigh smiled. “I’m going to bathe as well.”

  “You might need to use a guest room,” Reid said.

  Closing her eyes, Leigh took a deep breath. When she looked at Reid, there was a sadness there she couldn’t begin to comprehend. “Of course.” She hurried up the stairs.

  “I never thought I’d be back here,” Harlan mumbled, clutching his hat.

  Reid hugged him. “It’s good to see you.”

  “I’m sorry about your home.”

  She waved her hand, not wanting to talk about it. The pain was still too fresh in her mind. “I’m just glad the soldiers are okay.” And that no one had needlessly died because of the attack.

  “Come,” Dexter said. “I’ll show you to your room.”

  With his bag in hand, Harlan followed Dexter to the guest wing. Reid meandered into the sitting room, taking a seat on the sofa.

  A few minutes later, Ackley and Gordon entered.

  “Everything okay?” Reid asked.

  Gordon plopped on the sofa, his boots covered with dried mud. He rubbed his tired face. “I’m just going to rest for five minutes, then I will oversee the Ellington soldiers.”

  “I told you it’s taken care of,” Ackley said, sitting next to his brother. “I put men in charge of setting up the tents.”

  “But there are men from Cartr, Alder, and Bridger here.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Ackley insisted.

  Dexter and Harlan entered.

  Ackley crossed his legs. “We’re going to have to order all the servants back to work.”

  “Why is that?” Reid rather enjoyed having the castle empty.

  “Word just came—the duchesses from Cartr, Alder, and Bridger will be here tomorrow. Apparently, they received both Dexter and Reid’s letters.”

  Reid sat up straighter. Those were the three duchesses most likely to side with Eldon since their husbands supported the king. What was their purpose for coming to speak to Reid? Would they give her a chance to explain her position? Or would they automatically side with Eldon?

  “Any word from the other duchesses?” Dexter asked.

  “Not yet.”

  “Make sure some sort of watch is set up,” Dexter commanded. “I don’t want anyone giving the soldiers any sleep tonics again.”

  “Will do.” Gordon stood. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to pay Sir Gilbert, Lord Fesher, and Lord Drider a visit.”

  “The men from the party?” Reid asked, recalling the people she’d met when she went undercover with Gordon.

  “Yes. And, Ackley, I need your Knights. I want to know what’s being said at the local taverns and what the general feel for the soldiers stationed outside the city is.”

  “That may be problematic since my Knights are supposed to be dead,” Ackley drawled. He quickly explained how Anna had sent them in to kidnap Reid, hoping he’d mistakenly assume the king’s men had taken her so he’d assassinate them.

  “That sounds like something you’d do.” Gordon rubbed a hand over his face. “Did you?”

  “Anna’s plan would have worked if she’d known Dexter any better. He stopped me.”

  Gordon eyed Dexter. “I don’t understand Anna�
�s motives.”

  Idina and Leigh came into the room, both clean and smelling like flowers.

  Gordon leaned against the doorframe. “I understand Anna hates our family for taking her parents’ land, but her actions seem a bit extreme. She’s the leader of the Knights. Why try to eliminate them?”

  Leigh perched on the sofa, her back straight. “Anna has more than just her land to be upset about.” She laced her fingers together.

  “You know my mother?” Reid asked. She hated referring to Anna as her mother. It felt wrong.

  “Yes.”

  “Can you tell us about her?” Dexter asked. “It may help us understand her better.”

  “And then we’ll know how to stop her.” A wicked smile spread across Ackley’s face.

  Leigh pushed her hair behind her ears, then clasped her hands in her lap. “I only know bits and pieces,” she said. “But I do know she was madly in love with Hudson.”

  Reid raised her eyebrows, surprised by the admission.

  “Hudson told me he met Anna at a royal function where he’d been impressed by her beauty.” She peered over at Reid. “After a brief correspondence, he went to visit her under the guise of a hunting trip. Duke Axian took Hudson hunting, and that’s when the tragic accident happened.” Leigh focused on her hands, shaking her head. “Hudson liked doing a lot of things, so he never perfected any one thing. Hunting was no exception. According to him, he’d been too busy talking and thinking about Anna. When he went to shoot the deer, he accidentally shot Duke Axian instead. It was at close range, and the arrow shattered the duke’s knee.”

  Reid had often wondered why her grandfather wasn’t able to walk.

  “Hudson helped the duke home, then fetched a healer. While the duke was being tended to, Hudson and Anna snuck out of the manor.” Leigh twisted her hands. “Hudson told me they were intimate.”

  “I’m assuming this is before Anna married my father?” Reid asked.

  “Yes. This took place a couple of months before they married.”

  “What happened next?” Idina asked, enraptured by the story.

  “Anna wanted to marry him. However, he revealed his father had entered into marriage negotiations on his behalf.”

  “With whom?” Reid asked.

  Leigh took a deep breath before revealing, “A princess from Melenia.”

  Reid’s stomach twisted, and she felt like she was going to be ill. Since Hudson was originally supposed to marry someone from Melenia, it couldn’t be a mere coincidence Melenia was in Marsden now.

  “Hudson said his father wanted to unite the two kingdoms. After he left Anna and returned home, I believe Anna followed him. She dressed as a man in order to spy on him. This is how she discovered he wasn’t as attached to her as she thought.” Leigh shook her head. “I was so wrapped up in my relationship with Henrick that I never knew. Not until it was too late.”

  “Never knew what?” Ackley asked.

  “That Hudson wanted me. Probably because I was the one woman he couldn’t have since I was in love with his twin brother.”

  No one spoke for a moment as they all processed what Leigh had revealed.

  Gordon cleared his throat. “Wasn’t Henrick the king’s heir?”

  Leigh nodded.

  “So why did Grandfather want Hudson to marry a Melenia princess instead of Henrick?” he asked.

  “Broc always had a soft spot for romance. He knew Henrick and I were in love, so he gave us his blessing to marry. When Melenia’s king wrote seeking an alliance, Broc agreed and offered Hudson.”

  “How did Father feel about the union?” Idina asked.

  “Hudson was upset. He didn’t understand why Henrick was allowed to choose who he married when he couldn’t. Shortly thereafter, the king met with an untimely death. Hudson was declared the heir. Henrick believed Hudson forced those two men to change Broc’s successor on his deathbed.” Her eyes filled with tears as she told her children a story they’d never heard before. “Hudson confided in me years later. He said Anna came to him declaring her undying love. She said she’d killed Broc for him—so he could be king, and he wouldn’t have to marry someone he didn’t love. She claimed they could be together. What she didn’t foresee was Hudson’s vicious side. He told her she was crazy, and he’d never marry her. Then she threatened him. She said she would never leave him alone, that she would always be nearby watching. She claimed to know all about the hidden passageways throughout the palace. She could come and go, and he would never know.”

  A chill slid over Reid’s skin. “Then what happened?”

  “Hudson took control of the army to try to stop her. However, she disappeared. Hudson declared I was to marry him. He produced a signed contract. His behavior became erratic. I sent Henrick into hiding, fearing for his life. I didn’t know if Hudson would do something to harm him. Everything fell apart.”

  “At what point did Anna marry my father?” Reid asked.

  “Not long after that. When she returned home, she discovered her father had signed her marriage contract without her input. I know Duke Axian was concerned since he had no heir and his land had reverted to the king. He wanted Anna cared for. Marrying her off was his way of making sure she was provided for.”

  “At what point did Henrick gain control over Axian?” Idina asked.

  “Hudson couldn’t stand to be in the palace any longer. He believed Anna was always watching him. It was driving him mad. He had to leave, but he didn’t want to abandon the county. I think he pretended Broc deeded Axian to Henrick, knowing Henrick would come out of hiding and govern Axian.”

  Reid rubbed her temples. So many lies and misconceptions. When would it end?

  “Did my uncle truly hate my father?” Dexter asked.

  Leigh stood then, then went over to the window, gazing outside. “The brothers had their moments. They were so vastly different but both highly competitive. I’d like to think if they were alive today, they’d be friends if I hadn’t come between them. And that is something I’ll never be able to forgive myself for.”

  “I appreciate you sharing what you know,” Dexter said, his voice gentle.

  Leigh glanced over her shoulder. “You look so much like your father. I see him in the way you carry yourself. But you have your mother’s genuine smile.”

  Dexter slid his hand over Reid’s, squeezing it.

  “Let’s focus on Anna,” Ackley said as he stood and started pacing. “What can we glean from this?”

  “She loves to use poisons,” Leigh said, coming to stand behind the sofa, resting her hands on the back. “And she can hold a grudge. I’m sure she has something special planned for me since I married Hudson.”

  Ackley went over to his mother, sliding his arm around her shoulders. “We won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

  “Eldon—my own son—tried to kill me. Then, at Duke Ellington’s, we almost died. I’m not sure you can make that promise.”

  Ackley pulled his mother into a hug. “I can make that promise.”

  Reid wondered if Ackley had told Leigh about him being a Knight and his association with Anna over the years.

  A thought suddenly occurred to her. If Anna held grudges, were her grandparents in danger? After all, her grandfather had been the one to sign Anna’s marriage contract with Duke Ellington. And what about her father? He’d let Anna go, so that had to count for something. However, he’d also fathered five daughters with her. And, Reid suspected, that was five daughters too many.

  Rubbing her temples, she ignored her headache, wanting a few minutes alone to sort through this. Reid abruptly rose, exiting the room. As she went along the hallway, images of her life while growing up swirled in her mind. Reid always assumed she was at a disadvantage for not having a mother. She felt as if her life were missing something. Now, she realized how wrong she’d been. If Anna had remained at home to raise her, Reid’s life would be vastly different. For the first time, she was glad her mother had abandoned them. They were bette
r off without her.

  “Reid,” Harlan said, gaining her attention.

  She stopped, waiting for her friend to catch up.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  She rolled her eyes.

  “Never mind—that was a stupid question.” He folded his arms, observing her. “I keep trying to imagine how I’d feel if my parents came back from the dead. You know, figuratively speaking.”

  “How can I be related to someone like her?” Reid asked. And just like that, she understood what bothered her the most. Was Reid inherently evil like her mother? Would she become bitter like her one day?

  “You’re your own person. You choose how you behave.” He glanced up and down the hallway. “You don’t suppose we could get out of here? Maybe we can go to a tavern for a bit?”

  While that sounded like just what she needed, she didn’t think it wise to leave the safety of the castle with all the turmoil going on. “Actually, I have an idea. Follow me.”

  Reid led Harlan up the stairs to the royal family’s wing.

  “What are we doing?” he asked, trying to keep up with her.

  Glancing over her shoulder to be sure no one followed them, she whispered, “Investigating.”

  Harlan groaned. “Reid.” He pulled her to a stop. “Tell me what’s going on. Who don’t you trust? We can leave the castle if you want.”

  “That’s not it.” She trusted everyone who was currently in the castle.

  “Then what is it?”

  Not wanting to say it out in the open, she nodded down the hallway. “Come with me.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Fine.”

  She reached the door to the king’s private chambers, assuming Harlow’s room was attached to it. The locked door wouldn’t budge. Unfortunately, picking a lock was not one of her skills.

  “Do I even want to know what you two are up to?” Leigh asked as she glided down the hallway.

  “No, you don’t,” Harlan responded. “Come on Reid, let’s go.”

  “I want to investigate. Do you have the key?” Whenever Reid was around Leigh, she got the feeling the woman didn’t much care for her. However, given the vast changes over the past couple of weeks, she hoped Leigh had warmed up to her enough to give her the key to Eldon’s rooms.