Addie, Andrew, and Theo stood together, unified, upon the steps of Buckingham Palace.

People passed around them, unknowing of the critical scene before them. A foul taste settled in Addie's mouth. Her grandfather and grandmother had lived here when it was known as Buckingham House, or as it was bought explicitly for her grandmother, Queen Charlotte, it was also known as Queen's House.

When her uncle King George IV ascended the throne, he then began to renovate the house first into his own personal rooms and then later into a palace, such as the one that stood today. He passed away before ever seeing the project complete, and it was Addie's own father who went about finishing it. Her own family never lived in the palace, though. Personally, Addie had only ever been in a few select rooms. And now, King Ernest sat here, basking in the rewards of others' effort.

It was somewhat fitting, she found.

"Take a deep breath, Adelaide," Andrew muttered next to her.

"She is quite certain we are all about to be led to the gallows," Theo muttered back. "It is my fault, really. I think I quite gave her the idea."

Addie couldn't help a smile, glancing shyly up at Theo. The past two days with him had been unbelievably perfect. With the exception of knowing that it was all going to end, of course. But Addie had relished just being with Theo—of getting to kiss him, touch him, roll with him in the sheets. Of spending hours getting lost in each other, their bodies joining repeatedly. Of lying next to him at night. Of simply talking about things that didn't pertain to...this. What they were about to do.

She heard Andrew chuckle under his breath, bringing her back to the present.

"Adelaide, they may sit on the throne, but we hold all the power," Andrew said.

"I do not feel powerful, today," Addie replied.

"We have the people with us, remember that." Andrew gave her a glance.

"I find it hard to believe that the King truly cares about what people think," Addie grumbled.

"He doesn't," Andrew agreed. "At least not all people, anyway. But he cares what society thinks."

They began to approach the palace. A footman wearing royal livery led them inside to an embellished parlor that was richly colored, warm and crackling from the nearby lit fire. It seemed odd to think of her uncle living here, in such an inviting space.

The man himself entered the room followed by the queen and their son, Prince George. Her soon-to-be betrothed. King Ernest was a severe looking man, tall with sharp features. He had a way of peering down at you over his hooked nose that was genuinely unsettling. Queen Frederica, on the other hand, was his opposite in appearance. Her features were soft and kind, but Addie knew it was just an appearance.

Addie, Theo, and Andrew paid homage as they approached.

"I just had to see for myself that it was true," the queen said. Her tone was a balance of wistfulness, just enough emotion that some might think it was genuine joy, but Addie knew that it was only longing for the news of her survival to have been false. Addie and her aunt had a moment of mutual assessment. Two English queens, both sitting together in the same space, pretending it wasn't really so.

"Yes, so it is true," the king said, in a quiet appraisal of Addie. She had not worn her wig today, for obvious reasons. Emilia had insisted upon using curling tongs to arrange Addie's light-colored locks into something akin to what she might have worn before the accident. She had also carefully powdered Addie's face before adding the smallest touch of rouge to her cheeks and lips.

If today was the day Addie was destroyed, at least she would look like herself doing it.

No, the king would not be able to deny that it was her. Ernest had very nearly stalked her family in the months before the accident, never seeming to leave her alone. He probably knew what Addie looked like better than Addie herself.

He wouldn't be able to deny that it was her to himself.

The rest of the country, Addie wasn't sure.

King Ernest then glanced over at Andrew and Theo.

"I cannot say that I am surprised by your companions, my niece. Weston, you have helped to start quite the little rebellion, haven't you?"

Andrew looked amused. "Rebellion, Your Majesty? No, not such a thing. We are merely pointing out ways your grand monarchy could be improved to better serve your people. And Adelaide deserves to be a part of the service to her country. It is her due, after all."

Queen Frederica harrumphed from her spot across from Addie.

"Let us get down to it, shall we?" King Ernest asked, tensely. He did not wait for a response before continuing. "I think we have been very gracious with our offer of an alliance through marriage. Adelaide should come home and then spread the news of her matrimonial bliss onto all the people who seem to suddenly love her so dearly."

King Ernest gave her a shrewd look, his leering not mistaken for anything other than what it was. Distaste.

Addie tilted her head in thought. The room was waiting for her response. It would seem that Andrew was letting her take the lead on this one, to stand here and now for what she would, or would not, tolerate.

"Perhaps," she said slowly, drawing the word out.

She heard the queen gasp, presumably at the audacity to question the king's request.

"Certain stipulations would need to be met before I announced myself to be in...what was it again? Oh yes, matrimonial bliss." Addie neatly clasped her hands together.

King Ernest waved his hand as if in boredom. "Do go on."

Theo withdrew the documents they had drafted ahead of time and laid them on the table while Addie continued.

"Since I am the rightful heir to the throne, it should be expected that when the time came for Prince George to ascend as King, I would not merely be Queen Consort. I will rule jointly. To be clear, I will retain the stated monarchical powers as noted here," Addie pointed to the document.

She had barely finished the last word before he burst, outraged.

"This is preposterous!" King Ernest slammed his fist down on the document in a movement anticipated by nearly all in the room.

"No," a new voice stated, and Addie swiveled her head. George was leaning forward to study the written words splayed beneath his father's hands. Addie truly looked at him for the first time since they had arrived at the palace. He was classically handsome, as Lady Humphries had said. He was just one year older than Addie was herself, but his youthfulness had vanished, leaving a hard exterior.

Likely a result of his parents, Addie thought.

He had dark, sleek hair, sharp blue eyes, and a polished demeanor.

"This is reasonable, father," George said. "As she said, she is the rightful heir to the throne. If you should like to keep your place upon it and my place, as well, this is the swiftest course of compromise."

Addie's eyes lingered on her cousin, evaluating his unexpected response. His gaze met her, and she gave him a small smile. But he didn't smile back or give her any tokens of encouragement. He merely stared in response.

"This is ridiculous," Addie heard the queen mutter.

"I shall continue, then, Your Majesties," Addie said, focusing on the document once more. "The agreements also state that I shall bring my own servants with me, and their retention or dismissal will be my decision alone. Additionally, I will attend any affairs of state that occur or are required of me by duty, but the rest of my time is my own to do with as I please." She pinned her aunt and uncle with a stare. "I will not be a bird in a cage for your amusement."

"That is acceptable," King Ernest ground out, speaking in a way that did not make it sound fine at all.

Addie only raised her eyebrows in response.

"Lastly, you will use your overbearing nature and relationship with parliament to help enact a new tax law, as stated here." She pointed to the last section of the document. Addie stopped speaking then, waiting for a reaction.

It didn't take long before the king was shaking his head vigorously, his hooked nose ready to strike. "Absolutely not. I have worked hard to give the nobility of this country the break that their blue blood deserves, and I will not let you ruin that for them!" King Ernest spouted, his face turning red.

"Your Majesty," Andrew spoke, almost soothingly, toward the king. "The new law would still provide a larger tax break for the nobility than when King William was on the throne, but it would also allow for the taxes for the rest of your subjects to come down. The nobility will still appreciate their improved circumstances and the rest of your subjects could rest easier at night knowing they did not owe the state nearly their entire income."

But King Ernest did not see reason or perhaps wasn't even listening to it, for he just continued to shake his hand. "No, absolutely not," he repeated.

Addie wasn't sure if they were going to get around him. She peeked at the people beside her. Andrew sighed slightly, assessing the situation. He sat back in his chair, nonplussed with the King's reaction. Theo sat similarly, calm and collected. The queen was stunned, seemingly unsure what to do about her husband's outburst or the proposal sitting in front of them. Addie looked back over to Prince George. He seemed...interested.

"I've made more than one copy of this document, Your Majesty," Andrew said, gesturing to the marriage agreement on the table. "And I've sent it to a few friends of mine. With a note included, of course, about the details of this meeting today."

King Ernest whipped his head around to glare his beady eyes at Andrew.

"What friends have you that I care about, Weston?" He challenged.

Andrew just smiled.

"Madame Mischief, for starters. Surely, you have read her ragingly popular gossip rag, Mischief in Mayfair? Everyone knows that whatever the Madame says, goes." And then when the king's mouth fell open, Andrew winked. He literally winked, and Addie almost laughed.

"But perhaps, you are more into the facts, Your Majesty? If so, then you should rest assured that I have also sent a copy of the marriage agreement to my friend in the publishing business. He works for Potter Publishing. I'm sure you've heard of it. They have many newspapers and publications, even The Times."

Addie heard a sharp intake of breath from her aunt that was barely heard over Andrew's musings.

"I sent the last copy to my friends in Parliament. The House of Lords, to be precise. I shan't tell you their names, but I can tell you that they are well respected. The new tax law will be supported with or without you, but your involvement would ensure its passing. I'm not sure what the reaction of the ton and the general public will be when they find out that the royal family has denied this agreement. Your popularity has been somewhat wavering of late, has it not? What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"I should have you arrested right now, you sniveling duke!" Ernest yelled at Andrew while he continued to sit, unconcerned.

"If the approval of the ton is what you seek, Your Majesty, I wouldn't suggest it. I am the Duke of Weston, after all."

"And I'm the King of England!" he roared.

"Is it the title that makes the man or is it the man that makes the title, uncle?" Addie piqued.

The king rounded on her then, but before he could make her pay for her belittling comment, Theo cut in.

"I do think we have all made our point here, Your Majesty. If you please, let us continue our negotiations."

Fuming, King Ernest repositioned his tailcoat before sitting down in his chair once more.

Needless to say, they left shortly afterward with a signed agreement and an unhappy king. Theo let out a long breath that Addie was sure he had been holding for the past hour. "I'm not sure if that was wise, Weston, but it certainly got us what we came for."

Andrew shrugged, apparently finding little to worry about. He turned to Addie.

"You must have noticed that the wording very specifically states the conditions for if you marry His Royal Highness, not when. Should you change your mind, Adelaide, you should know you are not obligated to do this."

Addie shook her head. "But you said that you had already sent the marriage agreement to the publishers?"

"Yes, of course, I did," Andrew responded simply. "They were there when we created it, as were you. But you needn't worry about that."

"What?" Addie asked, puzzled.

"Addie," Theo said, "all of the people that Andrew mentioned to King Ernest, you know them."

"I do?" Addie asked again, beginning to feel stupid.

"Our friend in the publishing business is Lord Clemonte. Remember when you had wondered how he had acquired enough money to purchase his impressive book collection? And we have two friends with significant control in parliament, both Lord Trotten and Lord Farrington. And Lady Humphries, she is—"

"Madame Mischief," Addie breathed, finishing the sentence for Theo. "I can't believe this."

Addie took in the information, finding that she was considerably disappointed that she hadn't known these people had been her allies all along. She wasn't sure if she was more upset that no one had mentioned this to her or that she hadn't figured it out herself. Why hadn't she asked more questions about the people she had been working with?

Instead, she had just laid all her faith in them regardless of who they really were.

"Why didn't you mention this earlier? Who they all were? And that you were going to do that with the marriage agreement?"

Andrew shrugged again. "I needed you to believe in yourself as it was. For you just to believe that you could do this without their help. I wasn't hiding it, just experimenting with the result of your not knowing."

Addie shot him a look, before saying, "But I have always known I had help from you. I never thought I was doing it by myself."

"Ah, yes," Andrew replied, "But I am one man. Even you know this. They, the others, they represent many. From just a few of their voices, their sole support becomes the support of many. That is the power of the written word when its source has already been proven to be believed time and time again. And the thing of it is, it doesn't even need to be true. It just needs to have been believed."

Addie absorbed Andrew's words as they walked to their unmarked carriage.