Page 15 of Eloping With The Princess
Potterfield shook his head. “Several months ago, there was some correspondence intercepted between King Ernest Augustus of Hanover and some of his supporters, those who think he should be the rightful heir to the throne of England.”
“Ridiculous,” Lynford said.
“Indeed,” Potterfield said. “But dangerous thinking nonetheless.”
“Is the king himself involved in such thinking?” Lynford asked.
“No, but I doubt he would deny the throne if someone rightfully offered it to him,” Potterfield said.
“What do they hope to accomplish with Isabel?” Jason asked.
“It is true that she herself has a legitimate claim to the throne,” Potterfield said. “But were she married off to Ernest Augustus’s son, it could create a strong union.”
“I believe Somersby said that Victoria herself had already refused interest in marrying George,” Lynford said.
Potterfield thrummed his fingers on the back of his chair. “They are frustrated because even though Victoria is young, they are unable to control her.”
“These people already had their hands on Isabel once,” Jason said.
Potterfield’s brows rose.
“They took her from my townhome, but I was able to track them quickly and save her.”
“It would seem that you had the foresight to know the girl needed protection. Well done,” Potterfield said.
Jason nodded. “It was Lynford, sir, he explained that Isabel needed protection.” He couldn’t take credit for something he hadn’t done himself.
“Indeed. It seems forcing a union between Isabel and George would almost guarantee another threat on Victoria’s life,” Lynford said.
“I won’t make the same mistake again.” Jason came to his feet. “I’ll keep the princess protected. They will not find Isabel. The rest of you can keep Victoria safe.”
“Where will you go?” Potterfield asked.
He had no notion of where he’d go, but he’d think of something. “I’ll send word when we get there,” Jason said.
Potterfield nodded. “I need only know you are safe. You are the best tracker and rider the Brotherhood has. I know you’ll do what is necessary to make certain you aren’t followed, but I would be remiss not to remind you of the stakes.”
“Find the bastards who are planning this so I can eventually return home,” Jason said.
A princess.
He doubled his speed returning to the tunnels hidden beneath the streets of London. What the devil was he supposed to do now? It was his duty to protect her. Hell, he was supposed to protect England’s royal family, and now he had another princess on his hands, and one who didn’t even know she was a princess. Things had gone from bad to worse in a matter of minutes. And on top of that he’d stashed her in the tunnels, an area they now believed was unsafe.
She still stood where he’d left her, although she was pacing the tight confines, now guarded by four members of the Brotherhood.
“We have to leave now,” he said, grabbing her elbow.
He practically dragged Isabel through the tunnels until they reached the exit. Security be damned, the tunnels were already compromised. They raced to the carriage house, and Jason barked orders to the driver, then nearly tossed her into a carriage right before it jerked forward.
“Jason, what is happening?”
“You are in far more danger than we first thought,” he said. How was he supposed to explain all of this to her? He certainly knew what it was like to discover that you weren’t at all who you thought you were. Discovering he was a bastard had changed everything for him. “And, as it turns out, you weren’t safe down in the tunnels.” He swore. Damned if he couldn’t get things right.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
He rubbed a hand down his face. “I don’t even know how to tell you this. Frankly, I don’t think I should be the one, but I’m all you’ve got right now. Have you ever heard of Saldania?”
She frowned. “I do not believe so.”
