Page 49 of Lost with a Scot
Audrey smothered a laugh. “The king, bless him, can be quite distracted by pretty things that sparkle.”
“Audrey,” Horatia warned again. “His Majesty—”
“Lovessparkly things,” Audrey emphasized and winked at Anna.
“Lord help us,” Anne muttered. “I hope the men are behaving better than we are.”
Anna had been wondering that herself. Aiden was naturally quiet and often hung in the shadows when around his brothers, but this morning when the coaches began arriving and several men came into the entryway to be introduced, Aiden had stepped forward, thanking them and shaking hands as he invited them to the billiard room. Anna had seen an air of command in him that she hadn’t expected, and it made her realize there was still much about him she had yet to learn.
“With the king on our side, it will be much easier to find support for your cause.” Rosalind placed a hand on Anna’s shoulder. Since they had met, Rosalind had been warm and sisterly, just as Joanna and Lydia had been, perhaps even more so. Anna wondered if it was because Rosalind knew firsthand what had happened to Aiden as a boy and desperately wished for her brother to find happiness and peace.
“I hope so,” Anna said. If the king supported her cause, then it would be so much easier for her to help her brother and her country. Then she could focus on her life with Aiden and her future, whatever it may be.
But the worries about her mission were heavy upon her shoulders. She couldn’t fail her brother or her people. Knowing she was so far away left a hollow spot inside her that whispered dark thoughts that rattled what confidence she possessed. What if Alexei was dead? She would know, wouldn’t she? She would feel it—she would have to. She and Alexei had always shared a deep connection, and she had to trust that he was all right.
“Don’t worry, Anna,” Emily said with a confidence she wished she shared. “We will do all that we can to help you.”
Most women wouldn’t have the power to make or keep such a promise, but something about these women warned Anna that they were not simply society wives with powerful husbands. Each of them was intelligent and knowledgeable about social and political issues. Anna sensed there was so much more to them, though. She was only beginning to discover the strength of these women as they talked over tea.
Audrey grinned mischievously. “I think it’s time for Lady Society to announce that a princess is in town and anyone who’s anyone won’t want to miss her appearance at Lady Eugenia’s ball.”
“Who is Lady Society?” Anna asked.
Audrey poured herself another cup of tea. “Anna, my dear, I will catch you up on all of our recent adventures while we wait for the dressmaker.”
* * *
If there wasa group of men Aiden would warn others not to get on the wrong side of, it would be the League of Rogues—powerful English lords with more resources and connections between them than perhaps anyone outside of the royal family. They had bested spymasters, foreign princes, assassins, and more. Aiden and his brothers had even tangled with them once in a tavern, which had left the furniture in ruins and all of them barred forever from returning to that tavern, but they had earned his respect. If anyone could be of aid to Anna now, it was them.
The Duke of Essex, Godric St. Laurent, did not wait long before getting everyone’s attention. “Aiden, tell us about this army you need.”
Aiden cleared his throat and looked at the men lounging in the billiard room. His brothers were beside him, and the League members were ringed around a map of Europe spread across the green baize surface of Ashton’s billiard table.
“Anna is from Ruritania, the small country here by the sea. Prussia is its closest neighbor,.” Aiden waved at the outline of Prussia. “Anna’s uncle, Yuri, is her father’s younger half brother. King Alfred and Yuri shared the same mother, but Yuri’s father was a Russian boyar who had no real love for Ruritania or its people and instilled in his son the same feelings. Yuri secretly turned half of the palace guards against the king and queen, and the two monarchs were slain in their bed about a month or so ago.”
“Murdered in their sleep?” the Marquess of Rochester, Lucien Russell, snarled at that revelation.
Charles Humphrey, the Earl of Lonsdale, leaned on a billiard cue as he examined the map with interest. “What a bloody coward this Yuri fellow is.”
“Anna’s twin brother, Alexei, is still believed to be alive. He sent her here to England, hoping to secure our king’s help.”
“How many does the prince have on his side?”
“We don’t know for certain. The royal guards were five hundred strong. If Yuri has half, that leaves him with two hundred and fifty men, but we do not know how many survived. And if the rumors from Ashton’s ship captains are true, we might be facing mercenaries as well. The younger guards may have sided with Alexei, including William, who was his bodyguard. Anna believes it’s possible that they may be hiding in this area here called the Dark Forest. It lies north of the Summer Palace.”
“Is Yuri headquartered at the Summer Palace?” Godric asked.
Aiden shook his head. “Anna said it was burning as she fled. There is likely nothing left but ruins. She believes he may be staying at the Winter Palace in the south. It is an older, more fortified structure, more castle than palace, which means it will be more difficult to lay siege to.”
“I don’t suppose they’ll have any access to artillery?” Ashton asked Aiden, but it was more of a statement than a question. “Yuri likely has taken control of it all by now.”
“That must be our assumption,” Aiden said. “I think we need men who can fight hand to hand, men who are quick of foot and quick of mind. No common soldiers. We need warriors.”
Ashton stroked his chin as he studied the map. “Suppose we find Alexei. We could use him to lure Yuri’s forces out into the open. I imagine he wishes to kill the rightful king more than anything. Of course... if we had more time and planning, we could raise our own mercenary forces, but that would take months we don’t have. I think it’s best if we set a trap for Yuri.”
“That may be our best option, assuming Alexei will agree,” Aiden added. He didn’t want to risk Anna’s brother’s life, but given what Anna had said of him, Alexei would most likely volunteer himself before they could even ask.
“Then we will speak to the king at the ball tomorrow night,” Ashton said. “Once we know if we have his support, we will go forward with recruitment for our fight.”
