Page 73 of The Royal Art of Revenge

“Why not? My day freed up, you see, and I thought I’d pay a visit to the half-arsed thugs who intended to hurt me.” She pushes off the doorframe and walks over to us. Her light blonde hair seems to glow in the low light, and the heels of her boots click against the solid flooring. She casts her sharp gaze over the three immobilised men and raises her eyebrows. “Oh, is that it? How disappointing.”

The guy in the middle leers at her. “Shame we missed out on you.”

I take a step forwards, but she’s closer, and in one swift move, she stabs her heel into his foot. He cries out and doubles over, but the chains stop him being able to reach her as she keeps pressing her weight into the point of the stiletto.

Alec looks at me with a grin on his face. “I like this one.”

“Then all of my goals for today have been achieved,” Hattie says dryly, digging her heel into the man’s foot one more time before stepping back. “There. Now you haven’t missed out on anything, princess.”

“I really like her.” Alec chuckles and stands up. “Alec—”

“Alecsander, Duke of Kilon,” Harriet says, turning and holding out her hand. “Thank you for what you’ve done for me today, Your Grace.”

Alec pauses, then takes her hand. Instead of shaking it, he draws it to his lips and presses a kiss to the back of her hand.

I glare at him.

That’s my hand to kiss, you bastard.

“The pleasure was all mine, Miss Sinclair.”

“Call me Harriet. ‘Miss Sinclair’ makes me nauseous.” She smiles coolly, taking her hand from his.

“Then call me Alec.”

“Happily,” she says, finally stepping away from him. “Have you found anything out?”

“You arrived quicker than we thought,” I say. “We just got here ourselves.”

“Oh.” She looks at me. “I’m surprised to see you here. Don’t you have anything better to do?”

“Other than deal with the motherfuckers who thought they could harm my fiancée?” I cup her chin, tilting her head back. “I think not.”

“Stop. You’re giving me a whole bunch of warm, fuzzy feelings,” she says flatly. “Well? Which idiot in my house hired them?”

“We were getting there before you arrived in a ball of venomous delight,” Alec replies, putting the cigarette back in its box.

“I’ll make sure that’s engraved on my tombstone.” Hattie gently removes my hand from her chin and lightly squeezes my fingers before letting go. “Well? Get on with it. My day might have opened up, but I have better things to do than look at their ugly faces.”

Alec narrows his eyes. “Are you set on marrying him? He comes with a lot of strings. I can’t help but think I’d be a far better choice for you. The palace would stifle that personality of yours, you know.”

Harriet turns to him and blinks flatly. “Get on with it.”

“As you wish.” His lips curve to one side, and he winks at me, then walks over to the guy on the right. He drops to a crouch in front of him. “You look like the smart one of the group.”

The guy opens his eyes, staring warily at Alec. “How’d you figure that out?”

“You’re the only one who doesn’t look like he needs an ambulance.”

“Maybe I’m just a better fighter.”

Alec pauses, then laughs coldly. “I’d believe that if my men had more than one broken nose from a lucky punch. I’ll think you’re really smart if you start talking.”

Nothing.

He presses his lips together and doesn’t say a word.

“See, that’s the problem when people don’t get hurt enough before they get here,” Alec says, standing up. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a lighter, along with a cigarette again. “They think I’m soft. That I’ll let them off lightly. But, like I said, you seem smarter than your friends.”