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She was the only one capable of ticking all three boxes: cruel, conniving, and a mastermind.
I stared at the prince, whose smug smile told me he had no clue. Whatever Lady Thornton had planned would serve her and her alone.
“And if I refuse?” I barked, tired of tiptoeing around.
Prince John studied his knife. “Alas, there is no other option. Well, I suppose there is another. But you really, really don’t want to explore that one.”
I gave him my hardest You don’t scare me look.
He tested the blade against his thumb and murmured, “Just think…”
Like I hadn’t already been doing that.
“Think of the lovely gifts I would grant you,” he continued.
“There’s nothing you have that I desire.” My tone made it clear I meant nothing. Especially him. “How dare you speak of gifts while threatening those I hold dear?”
“Such as?”
God, I could kill him just for that amused tone.
“Such as Lord Winthrop.”
Prince John snorted. “What about that traitor?”
“Spare him.”
“No, he must be made an example of.”
“Spare him,” I insisted.
“All right, then. I’ll spare him as a wedding gift. You come along peacefully, and no tricks.”
I hid my disdain. I wasn’t supposed to use tricks, but the prince could whenever they suited his purpose? Not fair.
I glared, but what could I do?
The prince gleefully signaled his men. “Prepare my bride’s carriage. We depart in ten minutes.” Then he turned to me, shaking a finger. “And no tricks.”
Ha. I already had my first one planned.
“No tricks,” I lied. “But I must pray first.”
Chapter Sixteen
TUCK
The minute Marian stalked into the chapel, I slid the door shut and grabbed her arm. I was getting her out of there, and that was that.
But booted feet stomped over, guarding each of the doors — one to the great hall, one to the corridor — complicating that plan.
Marian took my hand and kneeled, pretending to pray.
“You can’t go with him,” I whisper-hissed.
“I have no choice. He’ll kill Lord Winthrop. Heck, he’ll probably torch the entire town.”
My hands clutched the pew before me so hard, it was a wonder it didn’t break.
