The High Priestess was a man.

But who?

"Albert is my best guess," said Caroline.

"Yes, but it could also be someone else. She is a Belle, Carol," Trent rasped above her. And then he groaned, his hands gripping her hips to meet his deep thrust, but then he stopped himself, wanting to go slow, savor her this way. "Albert may just be another flower."

She lifted her knees closer to her chest, her thighs sliding sleek against his sides. His fingers dug deeper into her skin and she whimpered her reply.

"What?" he managed in a gasp, bending low to nip her ears with a grin. "What did you say, darling?"

She gulped hard, lifting her hips against his thrusts, her arms like steel around his shoulder and chest. Her head lifted and she bit his arm.

"Aw! Carol!" he growled, pinning her to the bed with his hips. "No biting. Bloody hell."

She laughed, her face glistening with sweat. Trent crushed his mouth down to silence her, his tongue delving deep as he moved between her thighs again in short, deep thrusts.

"No biting, I'm warning you," he growled against her mouth.

"I heard their bed squeaking," she panted into his mouth.

He moved harder until his bed squeaked and she laughed, her breasts moving as she did so. Her hands restlessly ran through his hair, tugging and caressing.

"What else?" he asked.

"She cried like a wanton." She bit his lip. "Like I would want to if we are not on a stolen tryst."

He chuckled. "Then we should take you out of Belcourt soon. You remember Battenwell."

"I hate your estate, Trent."

"But you can scream in my estate," he panted, thrusts faster now, grip tighter.

"It needs new curtains, that place," she said, grasping his shoulders, her mouth open in a silent cry, eyes closing.

They were done talking for now, Trent thought, as he showed helped her reach the peak and followed soon after.

Later, wrapped in his arms, she murmured, "I think I'll have Battenwell over Belcourt any day."

"So you can howl?"

She squirmed closer. "So I can have you to myself," she murmured gainst his chest.

Trent sighed, running his hand over the side of her breast, her waist, her hips.

He had to go to Sasha soon and inform her of Caroline's discovery.

And perhaps also express his distaste over the recent mission she gave Caroline.

His arms tightened around Caroline and he swallowed. She could have been caught. She could have been—

He stopped himself.

No, she knew what she was doing.

Careless, but she managed to discover more than what he could have in ten years. More than what Robert could.

He kissed the crown of her head. "I love you, Carol."

He felt her smile against his chest. "I love you, too, darling. I'll love you more if we can do it again in the window."

A scoff escaped him. "Not now, please. You bloody bit me."

Her laughter was heaven to his ears.

"I'll bruise. I'm not even jesting."

"Do not be such a child."

"I'm hungry."

"So am I."

"You are hungry for me and the window, not for food."

She laughed again. As it died down, her face turned serious. "Do you think she's being used?"

"You mean manipulated?"

She nodded. "Betraying her sister for a man. For her own carnal needs."

"Would you betray your own if I ask you to?" he asked.

"You mean if you can make me howl like a wanton?"

"Yes. And more. If I can give you what your body wants and make you believe that's what your heart also desires. Will you?"

"Betray my family? The Circus?"

His hand went between her legs and she squirmed against it. "Will you?"

She bit her lower lip. A whimper. "No."

His brows arched. "You will not?"

Then she grinned, turning her head toward him. And her hands found him. "I will simply use your own weapon against you."

"Do keep your hands to yourself," he said, catching it under the covers. "It will not do any good. We have to wait a while."

She let out a dramatic sigh. Then she clucked her tongue and untangled her arm from around him to lie on her back. Her head rolled to the window. "Ah, poor windows. You will have to wait, my darlings. Get cold while you do because we shall soon mist you with our hot breaths."

Her laughter rang around the room when Trent growled and caught her around the waist. He rolled them on the bed until his feet landed on the floor and he easily pulled her up to straddle his lap.

"You will not make me do it, yes? You will not make me choose between you and my family. And the Circus?" she asked. "Because Trent, if you turn out to be a bloody rat, I will kill you myself before the Circus ever finds out."

He chuckled. "Calm down, Carol. I will not do such thing. You're my life. The Circus is my way."

"Good." She kissed the tip of his nose.

"I challenge you," he said.

She blinked at him innocently. "With what?"

He shrugged. "I am quite sated as it is, so make me ready again."

Her face filled with doubt and she looked down. "Is that even possible?" she asked, voice almost condescending. But the mirth in her eyes when she looked at him again told him she was also giving him an acute challenge.

Giving her an expectant look, he felt back on his elbows. "The window is waiting."

Desire glinted in her eyes as she slid to the floor.

Soon enough, the windowpane was misty.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

Three days later, Trent went to Belcourt in the pretense of being summoned by the Mistress of the Court of Flowers.

The moment he entered Sasha's study, he said, "I'm doing my best not complaining about my fiancée being sent to the Palace, Sasha, but allow me to express my slight disappointment." She only smiled. "You ought to have told me of your plans."

"There was no time," she replied. "I knew her quest was successful despite what she told me. And I applaud her for it. She even told me a very convincing version."

He shook his head and walked to the chair. "If her escapade went fruitless, I may have already dragged her back to Remington. But it did, thus my presence here."

Sasha nodded. "Good." Then she waited patiently.

"The High Priestess is a man."

Sasha stiffened in her seat. "The High Priestess?"

He nodded. "Delaney came into the Palace and demanded to be escorted to the High Priestess. She was, and Caroline followed her into a secret garden where a trapdoor led underground to the chambers of the High Priestess. She did not find out who, of course, but she heard Delaney making love to a man."

"Are you certain?"

"Caroline is certain." When Sasha remained quiet, he added, "She suspects it is Albert."

"It might very well be. It explains his close relation to Belcourt."

"Are you not surprised in the slightest?" he asked.

"With Belcourt, nothing comes as a surprise anymore." But Sasha was frowning. She was lost in her thoughts again.

"I also came here to tell you that Caroline and I decided to leave Belcourt once it is safe for her to do so."

"You? Leave Belcourt?"

He shrugged. "I am not fit to be a flower. I wish to focus on something else. Belcourt is not only the Circus concern."

"But if Albert is the High Priestess, Belcourt is our concern."

"Albert is not the only monarch."

Sasha nodded slowly. "You are right." Her brow arched. "Have you spoken to your father about this?"

Trent smiled. "It may be late, but I enjoy disobeying the man nowadays."

⠒♣◆♣⠒

Trent had just unboarded the Belcourt carriage to transfer to his own when he noticed another carriage drive by.

The face inside the window was one he could not forget. For one, he had been to her balls. Two, her balls were the most notorious of all.

He was certain it was Lady Renee. Not the princess, but the Marchioness of Rothsker.

She could not have been from the Flower Garden. He just left it.

The carriage that took him from the Court of Flowers was rolling away from them and it was following another carriage driven by a lady in a green cloak. He looked around. There was no one else leaving Belcourt but him and Lady Renee.

Guessing by who took her back to her carriage, he was certain of one thing. The woman came from the Palace.

⠒♣◆♣⠒

Caroline followed Trent's instruction not to repeat her adventure into the Palace.

A week after her discovery of the secret garden, Sasha discontinued her assignment to be Delaney's companion around Coulway.

Delaney was indeed powerful in her own way. One night with the High Priestess and she was free again.

Gabrielle came to visit her again with inquiries from Arielle.

"I am beginning to think whoever tried to kill me has decided to retreat or take a rest," she said to Gabrielle, feigning frustration. "I have been around the other Belles and the only thing I have thus far noticed to be a little odd is Jade's obsession with her flower. Apart from that, I cannot say that there is anyone I know of here in Coulway who wants to hurt me or have plans against Belcourt."

Gabrielle merely nodded. "It is all right, Caroline. Do not be frustrated."

"If only I can remember."

The woman smiled. "In due time, you will." She stood, still clad in her green cloak. "I must go. I may not be around for a while. Should you have any concern, go to Belcourt."

"Where will you be?"

Gabrielle just smiled. "I will travel somewhere in Sutherland for an assignment. Please be safe, Caroline."

"And be safe, Gabrielle."

That night, Caroline went by Jade's villa. The woman's bedroom window was alight. She waited until Jade walked by her window in her night dress. The lights went out.

She proceeded to Trent's villa and entered through the window that Orlin was not keeping unlocked for her.

"Good evening, my lady," the man wryly greeted from his bed.

"Good evening, Orlin," she whispered, tiptoeing to the door. "Sweet dreams," she added before closing the door.

When she entered Trent's bedchamber, she found him in his chair, frowning down on a piece of paper.

"What is the matter?" she asked, approaching his side to wrap an arm around his shoulders. His absent circled her hips, his gaze still on the paper.

"Has Robert told you about Lady Renee?"

"Of her visit to Belcourt? Yes. He also relayed, albeit apprehensively, that Lady Renee was paid to keep Leo's identity a secret."

He nodded.

"Robert told me he is to depart with other Royals to take Leo out of the mainland. Why?" Her heart pounded against her chest. "Has something happened to him? Or the other Royals?"

He looked up. "They were attacked in Everleigh."

"Is he—"

"Garmont is dead."

"But who could—"

"We are yet to be informed of the details."

"And Blackwood? Where is he?"

He sighed. "Somewhere in the South."

"But why is he there?"

"Diversion."

She stepped back and paced the room. "And the prince?"

"Safe where they took him. They just got back and stayed in Everleigh. They were supposed to go hunting."

"Who?"

"Garmont, Robert, and St. Vincent."

Caroline blinked. "St. Vincent? Why would—" then she stopped and sighed. "They took Leo to Herst."

He nodded and stood, throwing the paper into the fireplace. His face was grim when he turned toward her. "Someone has to notify Blackwood."

"And Darcy?"

"It is currently challenging to approach Darcy because of the situation."

"Why?"

He sighed. "Carol, you know I cannot tell you."

"Now, it makes me utterly curious. Why would it be challenging to inform Darcy? Unless Darcy is in a place difficult to reach. Or because Darcy will be found out if anyone attempts to make contact. But why?" She shook her head, and he only looked at her with amusement. "Well, the only likely answer I can think of is if Darcy is in Belcourt. If that were so, it explains why you cannot enter now because the Everleigh attack is quite fresh and it might blow Darcy's cover—"

Then she saw his face looking rather arrested.

"Good God, Trent," she gasped in disbelief. "Do not tell me my wild theory is correct. Darcy is in Belc—"

She could not finish her statement because he rushed toward her and covered her mouth with his. "You were not supposed to figure that out. Forget about it, hmm?" he asked, taking his hand away and replacing it with his mouth. "Now, I am utterly serious, Carol. Forget about Darcy."

Caroline stumbled back in disbelief. "Good Lord. Darcy is a woman?"

He sighed. "All Darcys had been women, Carol. That, I believe, is the only thing I can tell you to stop you from asking more questions."

"But who—" her eyes widened. "Ruby?"

He just shook his head. "Come here."

"You will not tell me, will you?"

"Yes, and you will not venture out and find out who. Because you truly cannot."

She sighed and came to him. "Are you going away?"

"No. I have no orders to leave Coulway, but I have to be ready if there is one. We are still waiting word from Blackwood."

"But he is in the south."

"Which is why we are waiting. Men are already on their way to him and Greene."

She kissed his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck. "It will be all right, darling. Rothsker is going to be all right." He leaned her forehead on his chest and closed her eyes. She said a prayer to Philippa to guide Terence Garmont's soul to heaven.

And also to keep Trent safe.

Because whatever this was, she felt it was just beginning.