Page 47 of From London, With Love
Morning dawned.The skies were bleak and gray, matching his mood.
Gideon scraped a weary hand over his jawline as he examined the room. Most of his trunks were packed and only a few items lay strewn across the bed. With a snap of his fingers he could summon a carriage and be on his way to Haver Hall, where he could retreat to lick his wounds.
It felt like cowardice to flee the city—parliament would be in session soon, and he was still head of the Humans First party—but he didn’t think he could spend another minute in Kensington, knowing she was only mere feet away.
And knowing that another man would be stealing kisses in dark hallways.
I just need a few days away from her. A few days to accept her loss.
Except even at Haver Hall, there would be ghosts to haunt him.
The chess board where he and Alexandra had spent many an afternoon, while they waited for Malloryn to defeat Balfour. The gray mare that the queen had become quite partial to. The garden where they’d walked and talked for hours.
And the stone folly where he’d kissed her and been rebuffed.
“Curse her.” He turned and reached for the letter she’d sent several hours ago, even though he knew its contents by heart.
Leave?
Or stay and fight?
But what had she meant?
Gideon,
I needto speak with you. Please seek a meeting with me at your earliest possible convenience.
Her Royal Majesty,
Queen Alexandra
And that was it.
The formality of the letter made his heart sink.
Was she cutting ties with him? Did she wish to gently inform him that she’d accepted Prince Ivan’s suit?
Or was the formality a means to hide her thoughts—and heart, hopefully—from those who might intercept such a letter?
A sharp rap came at the door.
“Come in,” Gideon called, scrunching her letter in his fist.
His man of affairs appeared, impeccable in black. “Shall I have the carriage sent for, Sir Gideon?”
He still didn’t know the answer to that. “I….”
Long seconds ticked out.
Hansen cleared his throat. “It’s just… there seems to be quite a goings-on down in the courtyard. It may take some time to arrange matters, what with all the ruckus.”
“Ruckus?”
“News, sir.”
“What news?” he asked sharply.
Sympathy twisted Hansen’s expression. Few knew of his affections, but Hansen was a loyal servant and no doubt he’d caught wind of his master’s feelings. “There is talk among the servants that the queen is going to reveal some happy news by the end of the day. She sent for Prince Ivan an hour ago, and they are walking in the garden together. Alone. The entire palace is waiting to hear word of their conversation.”
