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Raif was growing impatient with her cute words. “I could have you thrown in jail.”
“How would that help?”
It was a fair question. It wouldn’t help at all. “It would give me a great deal of satisfaction.”
“But it wouldn’t get your statue back.”
“If you give back the statue, I won’t throw you in jail.”
Her blue eyes narrowed as if his words had momentarily thrown her. But she recovered quickly. “I thought we could compare notes.”
Raif widened his stance, crossing his arms over his chest. He’d give her about ten seconds more. She might be beautiful, and the sound of her voice might send desire flaring up his spine, but that didn’t mean he was going to stand here and let her waste his time.
“You tell me what you know,” she continued. “I’ll tell you what I know. Perhaps between the two of us, we can figure out what really happened.”
It was Raif’s turn to chuckle, and she had the good grace to blush—very easy to see with that pale skin of hers.
“So you can distract me?” he taunted. “Feed me false information and send me in the wrong direction?”
“I’m not going—”
“I’m not that gullible, Miss Richardson.”
“Ms.”
“Ms.,” he enunciated, drawing out the sound. “I’m not that gullible.”
“I’m here to help.”
He didn’t believe that for one second.
“This is messing up my life, too, you know,” she told him.
“In what way?” he demanded, losing his usual iron grip on his temper. “Because Waverly’s will make a fortune? Because you’ll get a fat commission? My father is gravely ill. My sister is wreaking havoc on the family honor. My navy needs a new admiral. A multi-billion dollar trade deal is about to blow up in my face. And I’m wasting valuable time chasing after a priceless heirloom. But, please, do tell me how this is messing up your life?”
Ann set her jaw. “Your accusations are destroying my professional reputation. When this is all over, you’ll still be the Crown Prince, but I’ll be out of a job.”
So, there was going to be some small consequence for her actions. It was hollow comfort. “You should have thought of that before you stole my statue.”
“I did not—”
“This is getting us nowhere.”
The sun had fully set now, and traditional, evening horns sounded in the distance. Torches were being lit in the garden near the palace, but Raif and Ann were in a dark corner.
She moved close to him, her voice lowering. “I agree. You are wasting your time. If you chase me, the real thief will get away.”
“If I chase you?” His voice rose. “If? I am chasing you, Ann. And I’m going to catch you. And when I do, you are going to be held accountable for the grief you have caused my family.”
She considered him for a long moment. “Why am I picturing dank dungeons and gruel?”
It took him a moment to realize she was mocking him. She doubted the extent of his power? This was his country. He could have her thrown in jail with the wave of one hand.
He leaned in, affecting his most imperious tone of voice. “Tread carefully, Ann.”
But she didn’t back off. “Your statue is gone, Prince Raif. And I’m innocent. This is my one and only offer to help you. Take it or leave it.”
He co
