Chapter 147

To my surprise, Caleb does not force the issue of my lying, even though he scowls deeply at me. Instead, he drops his hold on me, turns, and abruptly walks out of the room.

Somehow, this feels worse. I’d almost rather he stay and argue with me, than face what I did just now. On his face, in a flash, I swore I saw disappointment as he looked at me. He covered it quickly, but it still sliced through me.

Closing my eyes, I sent a quick apology with my heart. I only lied because if he knew the truth, he would stop me from going.

I have to go, discover the truth, and use that information to help save him before his manifesting guilt crushed him whole.

I couldn’t find his mate, but I could do this.

And I will.

With Caleb gone, Bethany reemerges from the closet, carrying our disguises. Bethany, as a handmaiden, may not have as elaborate a gown as me as a consort, but she still had finer garments than the majority of those in servitude.

As such, Bethany has procured a pair of a pair of cleaning maid outfits for us. This is the most common type of servant, so with luck, our disguises would help us blend right into our surroundings.

Taking our disguises, we sneak down to the guardhouse before we change. Those within the palace itself would recognize us on sight, even in the new outfits, but those without would not be as familiar with us. Adding in the dim light of the underground, we have the best odds at remaining undetected.

Wearing his civilian clothing, Ted meets us near the edge of the palace property line. While he still carries himself like a guard, no one will think twice about an off-duty soldier walking around. Even one in the company of a pair of ladies wouldn’t be thought of overmuch.

The guards and the servants have been known to pair off and marry. Some even starting families in the underground.

Bethany and I wore our hoods up while Ted confidently strode beside us, keeping a careful eye out. He followed my lead, not knowing where he was going without my direction. He didn’t seem to realize that I was following Bethany.

After a time, we stopped in front of a series of narrow row-houses. There wasn’t much organization to them. It seems as if one was simply built half on top of the last. Numbers were painted on the wooden façades, near the door of each entryway.

We followed the growing number until we found the one we’d been looking for.

“This is it,” Bethany says.

Ted immediately starts forward.

“Wait,” I says at once. Glancing at Bethany, I say, “You and Ted should wait here.”

Bethany nods, but Ted seems put-out.

“We came all this way, and I still get to miss the grand finale?” Ted asks. He laughs, but there’s an edge to it.

While I appreciate Ted’s presence and his agreement in protecting us, I don’t fully trust him. He seems different than he’d been before. Harder, somehow. The guard life seems to have been unkind to him.

There’s no reason to stretch trust unnecessarily. It’s much better for Bethany to keep an eye on Ted out here, while Ted keeps an eye on everyone else.

I pass that instruction wordlessly to Bethany. We’ve already discussed this somewhat, but we’re also good enough friends now to have near-entire conversations without having to say a word to each other.

“We’ll stay here,” Bethany says to Ted. Before Ted can protest again, she adds, “To better keep an eye out.”

As his job here is to protect us, he can’t really argue against that. With a huff, he moves to stand beside Bethany. “Fine,” he says, but doesn’t seem happy about it. To me, he adds, “If you aren’t out in twenty minutes, I’m breaking down the door.”

“Twenty minutes,” I agree, and hope that will be enough.

I thought he might enjoy being difficult, but with the intensity of those words, I’m now suspecting something else. He doesn’t know where we are. Maybe he thinks the Robins’ could be in with the rebellion.

Maybe they are.

I hadn’t considered that. I can’t disprove it, but neither can I let it hold me back.

“I’ll be on my guard,” I assure them both and then walk up to the door, leaving my companions down on the street. Lifting my hand, I knock twice on the door.

At first, no one responds.

“Hello?” I call, and knock again.

This time, hobbling footsteps near the door. “Who is it?”

“Mrs. Robins?” I ask, taking a chance.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Mrs. Robins calls back.

“I’m a friend,” I say.

“I don’t know you.”

“We haven’t met yet.”

“Then you aren’t a friend,” she says.

“I want to talk to you about the past,” I tell her.

“No,” she says, even more firmly than before. She steps back away from the door.

“Wait! Please,” I say desperately. “I’m only trying to get information. I live at the palace, and I’m trying to get information –”

“You should leave the palace,” she says. “It’s not safe there for anyone.”

“I can’t,” I tell her. She has no reason to trust me, especially when I’m also withholding the truth of who I am and why I really came here.

How can I expect the trust from her, when I refuse to give my own?

It’s a risk, revealing myself, and could end up with my murder or kidnapping. But it’s also the best chance I have in connecting with this woman and finding out the truth about Prince Evan and Summer.

“I’m in Caleb’s harem,” I say. “My name is Harper.”

For a moment, there is silence. It’s a relief, as it means Mrs. Robins hasn’t stepped even farther away. But it also means she hasn’t stepped closer either.

Then, quietly, after a moment, she speaks once more, “The King’s favored?”

“Yes,” I tell her. “That’s me.”

Slowly, Mrs. Robins comes forward. The lock rattles and twists and the door pulls inward, revealing the short, pear-shaped form of Mrs. Robins. She’s elderly, with stark gray hair and a small hunch in her spine.

She looks tired and pale, perhaps sickly, and I immediately hate myself a little for disturbing her.

Glancing over me once, she says, “You aren’t dressed like a consort.”

“I had to sneak out to see you,” I say. “I wasn’t allowed to leave.”

She steps backwards, opening the door for me. “Come in then, quickly. Before you are seen.” Once I do, she closes the door behind me. “You took a risk coming here.”

“I’m looking for answers,” I say. “It’s important.”

“Enough to die for?” Mrs. Robins asks me.

To save Caleb? Yes. But, “I’m hoping it won’t come to that.”

Mrs. Robins hums. She doesn’t show me any further into the house than the foyer. From here, I can see the walls are covered with faded floral wallpaper that’s peeling in some places. All of the furniture is uneven and mismatched, yet everything is very clean and otherwise neat.

An old woman, doing her best to maintain her home.

I don’t see any sign of the male’s name the registry also said lived at this address, but I make no mention of it and won’t, if she won’t.

“Who told you about Summer?” she asks.

“Caleb carries a weight around him, regarding what happened in the past. But no one is allowed to talk about it. I did snooping on my own, and I found her picture.”

“A picture isn’t much to go on,” Mrs. Robins says. “Though I am surprised you found even that, with how much the royal family wanted her disappeared from existence, past, present, or future.” Mrs. Robins studies my face. “How did you know she was connected?”

“In the picture,” I say, “She and Prince Evan… I don’t want to presume, but they looked as if…”

“You could see it, then. So could anyone with eyes, though they tried to hide it.”

“They were lovers,” I say.

Mrs. Robins shakes her head. “They weren’t just lovers, my dear. They were in love.”