Katherine frowned at her but didn’t speak. Anger bubbled inside Roanna, and she rubbed her temples to break the tension. At least in Chester’s Wake she was allowed to work for the people. Participate in decisions. She was even allowed to travel to Lox, against her parents’ better judgment.
Here in Dawson’s Edge? Apparently, she would be treated differently. She should have known, based on the way Roland had treated her.
Katherine stood and came to her side. She took Roanna’s hands, stopping her from pacing. “I am sure there is something you can do to help, but it won’t be at this moment. No one will let you out of this bunker until the threat is gone.”
Something she could do?
The words ran through her mind as an idea formed.
Is this possible?
The idea solidified in her heart. She could do it, if someone would let her.
“I want to speak with King Dawson.”
Katherine’s frown deepened. “He is strategizing.”
“I have an idea, and I want to speak to him.”
Uncertainty danced in Katherine’s eyes. She glanced at the door guard. “Will you ask King Dawson if he will see Princess Roanna?”
The guard bowed slightly and stepped from the room.
Excitement and nerves twirled in her stomach as her heart picked up speed. He would likely say no, but what if he didn’t? Her idea could work, after all.
The guard returned a moment later, King Dawson behind him. The king was alone.
65
“I won’t hear of it.” King Dawson turned from her and paced to the other side of the room, as if distance would settle the matter.
“I won’t be in any danger.” At least, she likely wouldn’t be in any danger. “The Sterns don’t know the things we’ve only just discovered. They don’t know we’re on to them, and they haven’t attacked Chester’s Wake that we know of. If I come to them as an ally, they will have no reason to doubt it. Merry and I were already building a friendship before this started.”
King Dawson growled and didn’t look at her. Was he thinking over her suggestion? Merry Stern would have no reason to doubt her if she showed up wishing to join forces. She could mention that Chester’s Wake was tired of the tensions with Dawson’s Edge, and that she couldn’t bear the idea of being married into the royal family. Both of these statements would be true, though taken out of context.
“It could work,” Ben said.
Roanna spun toward the door where Ben and Gregory now stood.
King Dawson’s face turned red. “Get out of this room.”
But Ben stepped further inside. “Roanna met Merry Stern while Ambassador Roland was in Chester’s Wake. It wouldn’t be unthinkable for Roanna to call on Merry while here in Dawson’s Edge. For all Merry Stern knows, Roanna is simply here with her fiancé.”
Ben stumbled over those last words. His gaze shifted from Roanna to the king.
King Dawson shook his head. “I will not put you in harm’s way.”
“Roanna,” Katherine spoke. “Please don’t ask us to allow this.” Her voice broke, and tears pooled in her eyes.
Defeat washed over Roanna. They wouldn’t allow her to help. “But I know I can do it.” One last plea. “I have come this far, haven’t I? I am no weakling.”
“Roanna, don’t be a fool!”
Gregory?
She turned to him, tears burning her own eyes now. “What?”
“You followed Roland here, which was foolish of me to allow, and for a reason I still don’t understand. I stand with King Dawson on this matter. I cannot allow you to be put in any further danger.” His nostrils flared and his cheeks reddened.
Tears started down her face. How could he? Hadn’t they always been each other’s confidant? Each other’s ally?
“I love you, sister,” Gregory said. “And that is why I must insist your mission is foolish.”
“It is settled,” King Dawson said. “I will hear no more of it.” He stormed from the room without another word, leaving Roanna, Katherine, Gregory, and Ben behind.
“I’m sorry, Roanna.” Gregory reached for her shoulder, but she pulled away from him.
He kept her gaze for a moment longer, sighed, and left the room.
“I know you’re disappointed,” Katherine said. She didn’t wait for Roanna’s rejection. She returned to her seat on the sofa.
Ben grabbed her hands and pulled her to a secluded corner. “You can do this,” he whispered.
She pulled one hand away and swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “This is ridiculous. As if I haven’t been conniving and investigating on my own for the last few months.” She looked into his eyes and saw the truth in them—he believed in her. Trusted her. At least for now.
“When we leave this bunker, I can help you.”
She frowned. “It will never work.” They spoke in low whispers. “They haven’t let me out of the guards’ sights.”
“Leave distracting the guards to me. Once we’re out, I’ll get you to Merry Stern.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know, Ben. Surely the Sterns know I’m here. They will wonder how I got out of the palace for a leisure visit when it’s just been attacked.”
Ben frowned. “But haven’t you been away, visiting Roland’s estate? You probably haven’t had time to hear of the attack.” He asked it so innocently, his eyes wide. For a moment, she almost believed they were back in Chester’s Wake, and Ben was trying to lure her to the dungeon to scour old prison records.
She couldn’t help the smile that spread over her lips. “The ocean is lovely this time of year.”
His smile grew when she played along, but then it faltered. He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice again. “I still don’t understand what is going on here.” His jaw worked as he paused. “Are you still engaged to Roland Dawson?”
The intensity in his eyes bored into her. For a moment, the attack didn’t matter. The Sterns didn’t matter, and her Dawsonian lineage didn’t matter. She swallowed hard. Her throat constricted. “No.”
His gaze danced away, and he nodded. But red filled his cheeks.
What was he thinking?
“Will you do it if I help you?”
Hadn’t this been her idea? “Yes.”
“Then wait for me in your room. We’ll go first thing in the morning.”
She nodded. “I swear it.”
He gave her one last devilish grin. “I’ll see you around, then.” He released her hands and left the room.
Roanna sighed. She would do it, but she could only pray she was making the right decision.
66
Roanna paced her room. They had returned upstairs sometime after midnight. She’d slept fitfully and been awake since dawn waiting for Ben. A guard stood outside her door, and soft pink had enveloped the sky.
She had reached with her mind several times, feeling for hidden plans between King Dawson and Roland, but if they were speaking with their minds they were too far away for her to hear. The longer she waited, the more hopeless this mission seemed. Surely the Sterns would have heard she was in the palace at the time of the attack. Then again, the Dawsons had kept her presence in the kingdom quiet. They didn’t want anyone knowing the things they had discovered about her heritage. There was a good chance the rebels had no idea she was there.
A knock sounded, and she gasped. She was too jumpy. Too tired. Too everything. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door as if it would be the queen, but she found Ben. Her eyes widened, and she quickly pulled him into the room and closed the door. “How did you get rid of the guard?”
He grinned. “Gregory helped.”
“Gregory?” That was hard to believe considering he was against the idea of contacting the Sterns.
“Well, first he gave me a lecture on risking your life and your reputation. He reminded me that we are royals, and we cannot go traipsing around the country side unprotected. As if either of us could ever forget that.” He sighed and sat on the f
oot of her bed. “But I reminded him that the king of Dawson’s Edge was keeping his sister captive, and if we wanted you away from here at all, we had to take matters into our own hands.”
The pit of Roanna’s stomach twisted. “It’s not as simple as that, Ben. I don’t want to leave Dawson’s Edge behind.”
The excited light in his eyes dulled, and he watched her cautiously. Curiously. “Can you tell me about it?”
She swallowed and wiped her hands on her dress. Why were her nerves so tight? This was Ben. She could tell him anything.
“Shouldn’t we go?” she said instead. “What, exactly, is your plan?”
He clenched his jaw, not masking his hurt very well. He stood. “I’ve been doing a little investigating. The Sterns live north of here. You will be leaving on the train. Gregory helped me with that plan as well.”
He paused, and she waited. But his tone wasn’t as open and friendly. Guilt washed over her. Why was she keeping her secret from him?
“Anyway,” he went on, “Gregory is speaking with the king now, convincing him you would be safer at Santa Rio for the time being. Along with the queen, most likely. That will get you out of the palace, and from there, it should be easy to make a detour to the Sterns.”
Roanna raised her eyebrows. “Easy? I don’t see how.”
His grin returned. “You have so little faith.”
She smiled back and rolled her eyes. “Fine. I trust you.” But did she? She was keeping secrets.
He shifted toward the door as if he were about to leave.
“How is your father?” She blurted it out, hoping to keep him another few moments.
A softer look came over him. “He’s doing well. I spoke with him while we were in the bunker, and he was out of his bed and sitting in an office chair. His injuries will take a few weeks to heal, but at least he will heal.”
“I’m glad.”
He kept her gaze another moment then moved closer to her. “Thank you for coming to Lox to check on us. I’m sorry things happened the way they did.”
She swallowed and offered a shaky smile. “I forgive you.”
He raised his brows and chuckled. “Well I’m glad that’s settled. I should go.” He paused. “What’s wrong, Roanna?”
She forced out a laugh. “Nothing. I’m being ridiculous. Thinking as if we are still young and wishing you could stay with me longer.”
“I have a feeling King Dawson would not take kindly to that.”
“No,” she agreed, looking away. “I doubt he would.” Right now, King Dawson was acting as if Ben were the devil himself.
Ben hesitated another moment then moved toward the door. “Gregory can be very convincing. I suspect you’ll be leaving on the train as soon as breakfast is finished.”
She nodded, and he opened the door. He had so much confidence, but she worried things wouldn’t go so easily. She hurried to get ready.
It was likely to be a long day.
67
Roanna entered the dining room as King Dawson leaned toward Katherine and took her hand. “You will be safer there,” he said to her. “Roanna is travelling with you, and Santa Rio will be a haven until this is blown over.”
Katherine gave him a shaky smile. “I know. I worry for your safety, though.”
“I will be fine,” King Dawson assured her.
Roanna watched them with part fascination, part embarrassment. These were her parents. Her parents?
Her stomach tightened once again at the thought, but she couldn’t deny the connection she’d felt to them when they’d first met. Breakfast passed in tense whispers, and as soon as they’d finished eating they were taken to the train depot where their bags were waiting along with an unmarked train car.
A conductor urged them to board the train that would take them to Santa Rio. Roanna scanned the platform for Ben, but he was nowhere in sight. What did he have up his sleeve?
The plush rail car offered little comfort when Roanna’s insides quivered at the idea of the act she would need to pull off with Merry Stern.
Roanna wore a deep purple velvet dress that fell in ruffles just below her knees. Her knee-high black boots laced up the backs, and she wore a smart, black, top hat. A bit fancy for simple travel to Santa Rio, but as Ben assured her last night to trust him, she’d dressed as if she were making a social call to the Sterns. When Katherine had commented on how lovely she looked, Roanna had thanked her and offered an excuse about only bringing a small amount of luggage in her travel from Lox.
The train whistle pierced her ears. Out the window, a plume of steam burst into the sky as the train lurched forward.
Katherine smiled at her from her seat on the leather couch across the car. “The men will have this sorted out soon.”
Roanna considered returning the smile and leaving it at that, but she decided against it. “Queen Katherine, don’t you ever want to take action yourself? Don’t you want to participate, rather than leaving it to the men?” She spoke cautiously, not wanting to put Katherine off by insulting her.
But Katherine smiled knowingly. “Not at all, sweet Roanna. I want to do nothing more than the things I already do. While I understand the desire of some women to make their way in the world, I am quite content with my role as queen. I have always wished to help the poor, raise my children, and stand by my husband’s side. I assure you, there is nothing dishonorable in that.”
Roanna studied the Queen of Dawson’s Edge and had to concede the point. The queen was happy—and successful—in her place as queen. There was nothing dishonorable, indeed.
Roanna turned to the window and watched the land roll by. Leaving the state affairs for the men was fine for the queen and other women, but Roanna was not that kind of girl. She wanted to be at the heart of the action. And she could be. She was tired of being told what to do and expected to do it. She had a choice, and she had decided to start exercising it.
No doubt, she would be able to pull information from Merry Stern. The Sterns didn’t know she had been at the castle during the attack.
They had ridden for nearly a half hour when the train began to slow. Queen Katherine frowned. “What on earth?”
Roanna tensed as she searched out the window. Surely Ben wasn’t thinking to hijack the train.
A loud clanging rang out as the tracks were shifted to a different line. A line headed north.
The train restarted, and Katherine sighed. “Thank goodness. I was worried for a moment.”
Roanna kept silent. Katherine hadn’t even checked to see if there was a problem. She had no idea they were headed north rather than west.
A few minutes later, a servant entered with a tea service. He offered a cup to the queen, and one to Roanna.
“Thank you,” Katherine said, smiling up at the servant. She sipped from her tea as the servant exited.
Roanna looked at the cup, but her nerves were too tight to drink it. She placed her tea on the side table and watched Katherine instead. After a few minutes, Katherine yawned.
“The lull of the train always makes me sleepy,” she said. She set her tea down. “I believe I’ll rest my eyes. It won’t be much longer now.” A moment later Katherine was breathing gently in sleep.
Roanna watched, wide eyed. She’d fallen asleep much too fast. Had Katherine been drugged? She turned toward the window, looking for hints from Ben. He’d said to trust him, so she would try. But her stomach wasn’t cooperating with her brain, and it twisted with nerves.
After long minutes, the train topped a hill. The Sterns’ estate rose in the distance. To the left of the estate was a small village, and to the right a wide forest.
The train slowed as it neared a station close to the estate. They chugged to a stop, and a moment later the door hissed open, steam billowing around the platform.
Ben waited for her outside.
68
Ben stood, smiling up at her.
“How did you manage this?” She climbed from the railcar and glanced around. The platform
was mostly deserted.
“I know a few people.” He left it at that and took her arm. They walked toward the front of the train where an auto waited. “The driver will take you to the estate. You can tell them whatever you want, but some form of being at Santa Rio would work best. This morning, after King Dawson approved your trip, I made sure the servants were buzzing about you and the queen travelling. If the Sterns heard about it at all, it won’t seem a stretch that the gossips have their days mixed up.”
Roanna nodded. “I can do that.”
They reached the car, and Ben paused. “Be careful in there. I don’t believe it will be dangerous for you, but I can’t promise anything.”
“I’m not afraid.” She mostly meant it. Only a tiny wiggle in her stomach spoke of her nerves.
A slow smile spread across his face, and he let go of her arm and opened the auto’s door. “I’ll see you back here soon. Try to not linger more than a couple hours. I don’t want to have to drug the queen again. With any luck, we’ll be pulling up to Santa Rio as she awakens.”
Roanna nodded again. She could do this. She climbed into the sleek, white auto and in a moment, the driver had whisked her down the gravely road on their way to the Sterns’ estate. The house was large, made of whitewashed wood and only a few windows. It had a rippling roof made of some type of green clay, and various contraptions hung from a large porch.
The driver stopped the car outside the house, and Roanna eyed the strange hanging creations as she ascended the stairs to the door. They looked like weather devices—a barometer, a thermometer, a rain gauge. But they had tubes jutting out from all sides, weighted balls hanging from the ends, and strange number combinations.
The door opened before she reached it, and a butler met her at the door. “Can I help you, Miss?”
Roanna’s driver stood behind her. At the butler’s words, he huffed. “Sir, this is the Princess Roanna Hamilton of Chester’s Wake.”
The butler’s eyes widened, but he quickly bowed. “Do come in, Your Highness.”
The Rejected Princess Page 24