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The prince looked vaguely amused, perhaps at my oversharing. Or indeed, his own reputation as a bit of a flirt was warranted.
“Best not to trust Eric Holmes, Flora. I’ll let it slide this once, but he shouldn’t have left the London area, not even to visit yourself.”
So, the prince knew I’d been up in Scotland and that a visit from Eric had no doubt brought me back down. What else did he know, then?
“Why’s he been told to stay put, sir, may I ask?”
His Highness took a deep breath. “You don’t seem to be aware that the whole team was killed.” I lifted a hand slowly and covered my mouth, shaking my head. He nodded. “Except for Eric, of course, and the asset whom we now have in our possession thanks to Caelan.”
“It was a bargain then, a swap?”
“Indeed, though until Caelan actually got into the country, I don’t think he knew what he’d be facing. He didn’t go with the intention to stay, if that’s what Eric has tried to convince you…?”
That was a leading question.
“Eric couldn’t convince me of anything; he only paid a visit to stir the pot.” The prince looked assuaged as I looked him firmly in the eye. “So, if I understand this right, Eric is under investigation and grounded until further notice?”
“Precisely.”
“And I’m here because…?” I certainly couldn’t help them where Eric was concerned; he was as oily as they come.
The prince crossed his legs and rubbed his index finger under his bottom lip. I made him nervous. Or the topic of conversation did.
“The Russians suspect Caelan to be in Ukraine. They’ve sent a kill squad to find him.”
I nodded my head. “Good.”
He frowned deeply. We didn’t know one another well, so he didn’t know if I were joking, being serious, or if I was in denial.
A little of all three.
“If they do catch up to him, he’ll kill them first,” I clarified.
He cocked his head and tried to press home with a serious gaze how desperate the situation might become. “If they find and capture him, Flora… do you know what it might mean?”
“No, elucidate, please,” I said abruptly.
He let me have that and said quickly, “It could mean a great deal of trouble for diplomacy.”
I had a slew of vile retorts on the tip of my tongue, but I was bigger and better than that. I sat there and mirrored him, crossing my legs and pursing my lips, eyes fixed on him.
Eventually, he broke the silence. “You were a friend to my wife, so I am trying to be a friend to you, Flora. You should find somewhere safe.”
I inhaled deeply. “Safe? Safe? If you’re as knowledgeable as you claim, then you have to know I’ve never beensafe.”
He rubbed his nose in response. “Hmm.”
So, he had looked up who my father had been and what he’d done for money.
“Sir, if you think for one second Caelan did not meet his match in me, you are very gravely mistaken. You’d have been better employing me as your wife’s bodyguard than her dresser. I don’t appreciate being treated with kid gloves, like I’m some pathetic little woman. I’m the wife of a man who has done all kinds of things for this country. I know and see more than you could possibly imagine. I’m the—”
…only one who really knows Caelan,I wanted to say.
But I stopped, breathless. He nearly got up, but I scowled so hard it made him blush with embarrassment.
“I insist on you taking a leave of absence, Flora. No qualms, please. My father agrees. Whilst this is in play, you need to be with your son. It’s what Caelan would want. And the job is going nowhere. We’re none of us in any rush to see Grandmama’s things on display like doll’s clothes.”
Indeed, she had been like a doll. A seemingly weak and feeble little woman, though no doubt she’d put all of these peacocks in their place.
