"Her Highness is well," the physician replied. "I have clean and bandaged her wound. It should heal nicely, without scarring. But she should stay on bedrest for the next three days. That was quite the knock on the head she had there. If she should feel dizzy again or ill, call for me immediately."

Theo nodded tightly, not waiting to dismiss the man before rushing past him into the room. He found Addie propped up in the massive bed, wearing a pink dressing gown and drowning in the masses of costly fabrics. Usually, the sight of her in his bed would satisfy him to no end, but this provided him no pleasure.

Theo raced to her side, and she gave a small laugh. "I'm quite well, Theo."

"Is that why you are ordered to bedrest for three days?" he grumbled.

She frowned. "Three days? I can't stay here for three days. There are things I must see to. What of the king? What of Adam?"

"It has been taken care of, Adelaide," Will said from the doorway.

Addie's brows drew together. "What do you mean?"

"Adam's already been thrown into Newgate. He confessed to everything, the raving mad man. He traveled back to England after seeing a portrait of you from your wedding in a paper in Boston. Just a week ago he managed to get a position at Buckingham, using his connection to Kingfield to bait the prince."

"Oh my God," Addie said, barely breathing the words. Her hand flew to her open mouth and then hovered there, immobile. "He was the footman that George was talking to that morning. The one who was keeping tabs on you, Theo. And the one that was supposed to take you out of the picture."

Will confirmed it. "He said he was never going to harm Theo, though. There would have been no point if he had succeeded in poisoning you."

Addie nodded vapidly. Slowly, she lowered her hand so that it lay in her lap. She clenched the crisp sheets in her fist. "He wanted revenge for getting sent to America."

"Yes," Will agreed. "But he wasn't in his right mind, Adelaide. He was unraveled, going on about your deception and trickery. He didn't believe that you were royalty. He thought he would be doing the country a favor in the process of getting his revenge. Adam was screaming for the king, wanting to tell him that he had done it all in his name. Which just proves he is mad, since the king would cut his head off for killing his son."

"I am so horribly sorry," Andrew said, cutting in. His eyes spoke that truth. "I sent him to a workhouse in Boston, and I paid a man to keep him there, but he must have escaped. I never heard word from my man about it, either."

Addie just shook her numbly. "It isn't your fault."

"I think that's enough for right now," Theo said softly to Trotten and Andrew. They both nodded.

"And the king?" Addie asked, ignoring Theo's words.

Will hesitated but then decided to answer, likely noting Addie's tense face.

"He believes Adam's story. Ernest still does not feel fondly toward you, but he is no longer inclined to believe you killed his son."

Addie gave another absent nod.

"Is there anything else we can get for you, Adelaide?"

She shook her head. "No," she breathed. "not right now. I—I just need some alone time to think." Addie looked from Will to Andrew and then finally rested her gaze on Theo. They connected for a long time and Theo saw the plea in her eyes.

"All right," he said eventually, reluctantly leaving her side to exit the room, ushering the other two men out with him.

The three men walked back down the hall together in silence. Theo wasn't sure what to do with himself or them. Did he offer them a drink? A smoke? What did one do when they had foiled a murderer? None of them seemed eager to celebrate. But Theo didn't want to seem rude so he said, "Would either of you care for a glass of something? Preferably strong?"

Will was the first to decline. "Thanks, but no. I should be seeing to Emilia."

"I presume you will bring her back to Kingfield House?" Theo asked with a warning glance.

He gave a slow nod, as if hesitant to say yes.

"Now that this business is behind us, there is no reason that we shouldn't go back to how things were before Addie," Theo reminded him coolly.

Will's brows furrowed and he looked dismantled at the thought. Theo instantly regretted his strong words.

"Look," he said, clapping a hand on Will's back. "I was mistaken about you. I will readily admit that. You have repeatedly helped to keep Addie and Emilia safe from harm and been our ally from the start. But I don't want my sister getting hurt again if you aren't willing to offer more than that for her."

Will shuffled his feet, staring down at them. Then he confidently stuck his hand out for Theo to shake and met his eyes. Theo clasped hands with him, surprised by the gesture.

"Thanks, Kingfield," Will said. "Now, if you will excuse me, there is something I need to do."

Then Trotten dropped his hand and rushed to the front door, a man on a mission. Theo wasn't sure what he had just spurred into action and frowned slightly.

"This doesn't mean you have my permission for anything! I will see you both soon, I should hope!" he called after the viscount as he disappeared, the door closing resolutely behind him. Theo scowled, turning to Andrew, who was smiling after Will.

"I think you need a nap, Andrew. You seem delirious."

Andrew's smile widened. "I don't think I have ever taken a nap before," he said.

"Well, today is a good time to start," Theo encouraged. "My carriage can take you home if you need," he offered.

A quick shake of his head answered for him. "I think I will walk and enjoy this nice evening."

Theo gave him a look, wondering if that was a good idea in his current state.

"Now you're worried about me, too?" Andrew laughed as he walked toward the door.

"Yes, I'm worried, " Theo admitted. "But going to let you do as you please."

Andrew's lips quirked in a half smile. "That's my boy." A waiting footman opened the door for him, and Andrew walked out into the early night air. He gave a small wave to Theo from behind and then moved in the direction of his house.

Theo exhaled deeply and walked away, intending to return to Addie. He was hoping that she might be ready to talk to him but knew it was possible that she wasn't. Opening the door slowly, he peeked in to find her laying in bed staring at the ceiling. At first, it was difficult to tell if she was awake or sleeping, but then she lifted her head at the sound of his entrance, the door creaking as he pushed past it.

"Did you still want to be alone?" he asked quietly.

She moved her head to gaze blankly at the ceiling again, and her braided hair snaked around her on the pillow.

"No," she said, barely loud enough for him to hear her.

Theo was unconvinced, but he moved across the room toward her regardless.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

Addie pursed her lips, considering the question.

"I'm not sure. Guilty, perhaps."

Of all the things Theo had expected her to say, that was the furthest from it. "About what?"

"It is my fault that George died. And you could have been hurt, as well. This wouldn't have happened if I had just let him..."

Anger boiled within Theo as he understood what she was saying. For her sake, he tried to keep his words steady and calm, but it was difficult to do.

"I don't think so, Addie. I think it only would have gotten worse if you hadn't done what you did." He paused, wrestling with finding the right words. She lifted her head slightly, leaning back on her elbows before inhaling sharply at the strain it put on her shoulder and laid down again. Theo continued, "There are a million what if's that you could imagine, princess. This would never have happened if I had just left you alone from the beginning. Nor would it have happened if I had killed the bastard when I had the chance. But we can't live our lives like this."

She laid there quietly for a while, but Theo saw her eyes moving in thought. Finally, she said, "If I stay in London, the people around me are always going to be in danger, Theo."

"I've already told you I would risk everything for you. I've said I would live any life with you." Theo said, sitting down on the edge of the bed to wrap his fingers around hers. She twisted her face to look at him, smiling weakly. "The question is, what kind of life do you want?" he asked her.

"This one," she said, quicker to answer than Theo expected. "The one where you are here next to me. The one where I am in London, representing my country. But I worry..."

Theo gave a firm nod. "What do you think the king will do now?"

"I'm not sure. But there is one thing that will ensure his acceptance of me as his heir."

He knew what she was implying, but he didn't want to say it. The thought hurt him, but he knew it would hurt him more to be without Addie or to have to see her walk away from the throne. So, he whispered the question, "The baby?"

"Yes." She squeezed his hand, trying to reassure him. "As long as he believes the child to be his grandson, he will accept me. We will all be safe. I wish it weren't this way, Theo, but if he knew that you were the father, I fear none of us could stay here."

He knew she was right, which is why he wasn't going to argue it. His chest twinged, knowing now that he wouldn't be able to claim his son or daughter as his own. But he agreed with her.

"Fine," he said softly.

"Fine?" she repeated, surprise in her voice as she studied him with wide eyes. It was clear that she had been expecting him to fight her on this.

"Fine," he said, putting a hand on her belly. "I can survive knowing that this child might not have my name."

"But you will be his father," Addie replied earnestly, rolling onto her side. He was sure she must've seen bewilderment on his face because she smiled and said, "When we marry, of course."

The words sent Theo crumpling to his knees so he could grasp her face between his hands and kiss her sweetly. His heart could imagine no greater joy.

"Really?" he asked in disbelief.

She laughed and kissed him again, briefly. "Yes, if you're sure."

"Sure?" Questioning his certainty about marrying her was incredulous. "I've never been surer of anything, Addie. But how? How do we do it with this life of yours?"

She laughed. It was a beautiful sound. "The usual way I suppose."

"I am not a royal, Adelaide. For you to rule and also marry me... I am not certain it will be allowed."

She did not think for even a moment before prattling off a list of names. "King Edward IV, King James II, and Prince Henry, brother of George III, and my great-uncle."

Theo stared at her blankly. "What of them?"

"English royalty that have married commoners. And you, Your Grace, are not a commoner."

"Yes, but because of your great-uncle's marriage choices, is there not an act stating you must have the monarch's permission before marrying?"

She looked surprised, her expression wiping blank. "Weren't you the one that was begging for marriage not but two days ago?"

"Darling, yes, but that was before you were to also rule."

"Well, you are correct about those rules, but I do believe I can handle my uncle." Addie gave him a mischievous grin.

"I know you can handle your uncle."

"You'll be consort one day," she pointed out after a moment of thought.

Theo stopped at that, having never considered it before. But then he shrugged. Nothing could dissuade him from her. "That's why I'll have Andrew to tell me what to do," he teased.

"Andrew?" she asked, drawing back with a slight grin on her face. "What about me?"

Theo laughed. "You're right. Anything you say, my love. It's all for you, definitely you." And then he kissed her again, deciding that they'd spent far too much time talking. Anything else could wait.

She pulled back from him to say something and he almost cut her off to drag her against him again. But she only whispered three little words against his lips that were sweeter than any kiss. "I love you, Theo."

"I love you, too," he whispered back.