Page 133 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“No, of course not. How could you? It’s an honour to have you here, no matter the time of day, Your Royal Highness.”

“Oh, there’s no need to be so formal. I’m not here on any official business, William.”

He blinks at me, and his hand trembles when he reaches for his empty glass. “You’re not?”

“Do you often do business in the small hours of the morning?”

“Depends on the client. Time zones sometimes make it a necessity.” He chuckles, but there’s no warmth in it. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thank you. You go on ahead, though.” I wave a hand. “Mind if I sit down?”

“Of course, of course. Make yourself comfortable.” He motions to the chairs on the other side of his desk, but with his vacated, I walk around to his side and sit in his chair instead.

He turns and pauses the moment he sees me, but wisely, doesn’t say a word. Instead of asking me to move, he simply pulls up one of the chairs he’d intended for me to sit in and takes one of those.

Incredible how easily he yields to one with more power than him.

“So,” he begins, eyeing me warily. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night visit?”

“Do you really not have any idea why I’m here?” I raise my eyebrows and reach for a pen to twirl it between my fingers.

William’s throat bobs, and he takes a short drink from his glass. “If I had to wager, I’d guess it has something to do with my daughters’ altercation earlier today.”

“Exactly.” My stomach twists, and as if he can feel my mood souring, he flinches. “Is that truly the girl you raised with the intention of making her my wife? One who would strike another for no good reason? Tell me, do you think so little of the Askurg Royal Family?”

“No, of course not. I do not condone her actions whatsoever, but—”

“But, what?” I raise my chin. “She hit Harriet. In broad daylight, in public, your daughter raised her hand and struck my fiancée. The Crown Princess-in-waiting. I’m fucking dying to hear your justification for that, William.”

He freezes. “Jasmine…” He finishes on a sigh. “There is no justification for her actions. Regardless of provocation, there is no reason for her to have resorted to violence.”

“Provocation? Are you suggesting that Harriet somehow coerced her sister into hitting her?”

“Jasmine said that Harriet said some… unsavoury things.” He swallows again, clutching his glass tightly. “Things regarding your relationship that, forgive me, I do not wish to repeat in front of you.”

Well.

That would be true.

It would also be true that I don’t think she went far enough in that provocation, but I’m hardly going to tell him that.

“Is that it? I cannot possibly imagine Hattie saying anything that would result in such treatment.”

“She also made comments regarding Jasmine’s legitimacy. That she was only adopted because Harriet had disappeared, and if it weren’t for that, she would have nothing.”

Adoption bullshit aside… “She would be correct in saying that, would she not?”

William stills.

“Can you honestly say that if Harriet hadn’t gone missing and her mother were still here that you’d have sought to adopt another daughter?” I ask, holding my hands out. “You certainly wouldn’t have remarried. My mother has told me how you and Francesca had once hoped for a second child—a son. If you’d adopted a child together, I’d be so bold as to assume you’d prefer a son. You adopted Jasmine merely because you believed Harriet to be dead, no?”

He opens his mouth to reply, and I raise my eyebrows.

“Not exactly,” he finally says, somewhat shakily. “O—of course, you are correct that I likely wouldn’t have sought to adopt another daughter if those terrible things hadn’t happened to Harriet and her mother, but there’s no way to say for certain.”

“Oh, of course.” I drop my hands again and sigh, leaning my head back against the chair. “And I don’t mean to offend you by saying that. Personally, I can’t imagine Harriet saying something so cruel. Can you?”

“I… I’m afraid I can’t answer that, Your Royal Highness. I thought I knew my daughter, but after your secret engagement, I believe I don’t know her at all.”