The route they took to Lord Trotten's home was convoluted and lengthy. They made several stops to take any precautions of being followed. Theo thought that his nerves might have lessened after leaving the palace, but he found that with each turn they made through the city, his stomach would tighten even further. By the time they had arrived at the back entrance to Lord Trotten's home, Theo's stomach was full of knots.

He led Addie in through the servants' entrance, which was slightly ironic as she was a servant no more. No one could mistake her as one in the stunning gown she had worn to meet the king and queen. Theo knew that Emilia had helped her pick it out, and his sister had not let them down.

It was a shimmering gold, almost translucent in appearance, beautifully adorned along her curves. The cut was just low enough to make Theo's mouth water, and her skirts billowed out around her legs in a train that was fit for a queen.

He had never seen anything more exquisite. And he likely wouldn't again after this day. If Addie chose to marry the prince, this was to be their goodbye.

Emilia greeted them at the door, having arrived at Lord Trotten's earlier that day. She had made minimal protestations at the prospect of temporarily moving in with her ex-fiancé, but Theo knew it was for Addie's sake, not his. Emilia was a smart woman, and she knew that if there were any other options, she would not be here.

"How did it go?" Emilia grabbed onto Theo's arm the moment they stepped over the threshold of the house.

"Quite well," Theo said, though he did not feel well at all. "King Ernest agreed to all of Addie's stipulations."

"After Andrew told him that the marriage agreement had already been sent to the press and to parliament," Addie added, humor in her voice.

Andrew smiled but stopped in the doorway. "Is there anything else you need from me, Your Royal Highness?"

"Not at all, Your Grace. I think you've done quite enough."

She walked back to the older man and before he could do anything to stop her, gave him a quick, tight squeeze. Though startled by the hug at first, he appeared to return the embrace before stepping out into the chilled air of London.

Emilia grabbed Addie's hand then, leading her through to the main staircase of Lord Trotten's townhouse.

"Let me show you to your rooms, Addie."

Addie nodded and followed his sister up the steps. He watched her shimmering steps disappear.

"This is where you've come to warn me, no doubt," Lord Trotten drawled in his usual unenthusiastic fashion, startling Theo from his moments of inward admiration. He spun to meet the man's eyes dead on.

"You better believe it, Trotten."

"Do get on with it then," he replied, giving a languid wave of his hand.

"If you so much hurt a hair on either of those women's heads, I will personally pummel you so far into the ground that you'll feel hell on your ass."

"Oh," the viscount replied, drawing the syllable out. "How long have you been coming up with that threat? Quite impressive, Your Grace."

Theo did not dignify that with a response.

"Both you and I know that neither of those women will let me get anywhere near the hair on their head. You've nothing to worry about, Kingfield."

Theo had everything to worry about.

"Need I point out the state of the king's emotions as we left Buckingham today?" Theo questioned.

"Surely he was just livid, no?"

"Outraged."

Lord Trotten met Theo's eyes in a solemn gesture. Trotten gave him a terse nod.

"They will be safe. Now, go say your adieus to your princess."

Theo cursed under his breath and moved toward the second floor, his knotted stomach twisting even further as he followed the curves of the staircase. Every step hammered into his heart. He found his way to Addie's new bedchamber, hearing Emilia's chatter from down the hall.

The room she stood in was painted the color of roses and richly adorned with plush fabrics and delicate furniture. In the middle of the chamber, a large bed consumed the space. It was buried beneath its own weight in pillows. At least Addie finally had the lodgings she deserved. The sumptuous room was fit for a princess, no doubt.

Theo cleared his throat in the doorway, and both women looked at him. Emilia smiled warmly before taking her leave, brushing past Theo with a squeeze of encouragement on his arm.

After she'd passed, Theo closed the door, leaving them alone. Just this one last time, he thought. He moved toward Addie as she stood there in the middle of the room, positively regal, nay ethereal, as she glowed, basked in low candlelight. Not knowing what to say or what to do, he said the first thing that came to mind.

"You are beautiful in that dress, Adelaide."

He thought he saw a hint of blush steal across her face. He longed to make her blush everywhere and to see it somewhere other than his memories.

"Thank you," she said demurely, as if he was courting her for the first time. God, how he wished he were. How he wanted it to be that simple.

He reached her then and took her hands gently in his.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

She shook her head, unable to meet his eyes.

"I don't know."

Theo took her chin in his hands and tilted it up. Addie stood straight.

"Even when you are unsure, never forget to stand tall. Your crown must never fall, Addie," he whispered softly.

She straightened, her eyes seeking his for the first time since they'd left Buckingham.

He took a shaky breath, gazed deep into her blue depths, and asked, "May I tell you how I am feeling?"

There was a slight hesitation before she nodded, her eyes never leaving his.

"I'm excited and hopeful for what you are going to do for this country. But I am terrified at letting you go."

"Why?" she asked, looking for an answer he knew he was ready to give. "I've done nothing but complicate and endanger your life since I've arrived."

He shook his head, letting a smile slip onto his face. "Addie, all you've done is endanger my heart. Can't you see that?"

Her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears when she pressed her lips to his in a desperate attempt to steal the moment away. The kiss was a frantic twisting of tongues and flesh, a futile effort to hold onto each other before the inevitable.

"I love you, Addie," Theo murmured between their lips. "Goddammit, I love you so much."

He felt a tear roll down her cheek in response, wetting his own skin as she continued to taste his lips. Theo knew in his heart that this was her way of saying good-bye. He deepened the kiss as he felt her pulling away, not ready to give her up that easily. She moaned her pleasure, her desperation, her despair. He pushed her back, pressing her body up against the far wall of the bedchamber.

"Addie, please." Between kisses, he let slip the plea he longed to scream. Don't marry him. Be with me. Please.

Tears fell in earnest now, coming between the final meeting of their lips before she broke away. "I'm sorry, Theo. I can't. I have to marry him. You know I have to marry him. You said yourself that there could be no other way," she cried, desperation in her voice.

Theo withdrew from her warm body, his hand tracing the curves of her arms as he backed away. And then he was left with just her hand in his possession. He lifted it to his lips and whispered, "I know," before pressing a lingering kiss to her skin. He raised his eyes to hers, still holding her hand. "But are you sure? In the beginning, you told me that you didn't want people to know who you are because you didn't wish for this life."

Addie met his gaze, beat for beat. "I didn't," she admitted. "I was afraid of it. And I can't say that I'm not still scared. But it would be wrong to keep hiding; there are so many who are counting on me. This is what my family would want, and this is who I am supposed to be."

Theo felt her words and knew they were the truth. She would never abandon those who were counting on her now. "So you have to marry him."

She nodded and dropped her gaze. "I have to marry him."

"And us?" He had to ask, had to know. "I can't let you go."

She still didn't look at him, his words falling on the top of her honey-colored hair.

"There can be no us, Theo," she said after a pause.

"Why shouldn't there be?" Theo could hear himself begging, but he didn't care. "If it makes you feel better, we can wait until after you have given birth to an heir, but this is the British aristocracy. Very few respect their marriage vows.

"My mother and father did," she said in a shocked hush. "I know many who do."

"And I respect them for that," Theo said. "But Addie...do not make me live without you."

She dropped her hands from his abruptly and her words turned frosty. "I do not wish to, Theo. But I will be married to another man. Not just any man, but a prince. I will be the queen, and if we were discovered having an affair, it would be grounds for a divorce...or worse. It would complicate things immensely." There was another pause before her tone turned to velvety softness. "You truly wish to engage in forbidden trysts?"

"Is it not what we have been doing?" Theo countered.

"And that is enough for you?" It was asked with genuine curiosity, but Theo could not understand the question. Or rather, why it was being asked.

"Of course it isn't, Adelaide!" She might not have raised her voice, but he did. "But I will take any part of you that I can!"

"You mean the part for bedding," she accused icily.

Theo ran his hands over his face, dragging them across his eyes and shading them from seeing her accusatory gaze, which made his blood boil. How was she taking his love and twisting it?

"I love you. You, Adelaide. Do I want to bed you? Yes. A million times yes, Addie. But I also want to talk to you and sleep with you in my arms. I want to see your smile and know that it is mine to kiss." He grabbed her around the waist, and though she attempted to pull away, he didn't let her, holding her tighter. "I can't help but ask for it from you. Because if the alternative is to live without you, I-"

She took his lips hard, breaking off his words. He was grateful, since he didn't know what he would say, he didn't know what he would do without her. She kissed him savagely, and Theo let her. Gasping, she said, "I'm sorry... Theo, I cannot risk being that as much as I want you. Even as much as I—"

Her words broke off.

Theo spun her around then, tucking her against his chest, because he couldn't look at her when he said goodbye. "Fine. But know this...I would wait a lifetime for you, Adelaide." Her hair mused against his cravat as she leaned on him. Sniffles were the only reply that he heard, and so he let her go, turning and leaving the room.

"Goodbye, Addie," he whispered.