Chapter 2

I trailed five paces behind Edward, ready to bolt for the hills at a moment's notice.

My father, that clueless old fool, had dismissed every servant in the vicinity, saying it was so His Royal Highness could enjoy the garden undisturbed.

He's basically sending me to my doom.

"Ms. Beatrice." Edward suddenly stopped and spun around.

I stopped short, nearly tumbling straight into his chest.

"Y-yes, Your Highness? What can I do for you?" I hastily stepped back a few paces, keeping up my best gravelly voice.

"The grounds are quite well-tended," he remarked.

"You bet they are!" I puffed out my chest, leaning into my "nouveau riche" persona.

I jabbed a finger toward the field of roses, nearly spitting as I spoke. "Look at those roses, Your Highness—worth five thousand coins, hauled all the way from Ashbourne.

"And those tulips yonder? Three hundred coins apiece, imported clear from the Far East. We Suttons may lack pedigree, but we're filthy rich, and coin's the only thing we've got."

I gestured wildly, miming a massive pile of coins with my hands as I talked.

Edward frowned at my words. I knew he absolutely loathed a crass.

"So, Ms. Beatrice, how do you usually spend your days at home?" he asked suddenly, his sharp gaze dropping to my hands. "Do you perhaps... enjoy wood carving?"

My heart skipped a beat. Wood carvings were our sweetest memories from the old days. I couldn't believe Edward still remembered.

I swallowed my guilt and shook my head. "Wood carving? That isn't worth a copper. Why bother? My real passions are playing dice and balancing the ledgers. Nothing beats the thrill of a winning streak!"

Edward narrowed his eyes, his focus lingering on my slender fingers. "Is that so? Those hands don't exactly look like they've spent much time tossing dice in a gambling den."

Busted!

My mind raced. I hiked up my sleeves and made a crude stabbing motion in the air. "Heh, Your Highness wouldn't believe it. Besides counting gold, my favorite hobby is butchering hogs."

Edward's face went stiff as a board. "Butchering... hogs?"

"Too right!" I said, looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "Cold steel in, red blood out! You haven't lived until you've had fresh blood sausage. And the chitterlings are a real delicacy. Has Your Highness ever tried them? Perhaps I could make some for you sometime?"

As expected, Edward's face turned thunderous, and he looked like he could barely stand me.

"Ms. Beatrice... is certainly a woman of many talents," he bit out through clenched teeth.

Hook, line, and sinker! I was safe.

"Well now, if it isn't Ms. Beatrice." Miles stepped out from behind a rosebush and gave me a lecherous once-over.

"Your Highness, looking at Ms. Beatrice's figure..." He stepped closer, letting his eyes linger on my bodice. "She might not be fit to be a lady of the house, but she'd make a fine enough chambermaid for my quarters. Later, I'll be sure to ask Mr. Sutton for her."

My blood boiled. My fists were itching for a fight.

"Oh, my lord!" I suddenly shrieked, pointing a finger at his midsection. "Is that belt of yours merely gold-plated? The sheen looks all wrong. You'd better watch out. If that cheap buckle snaps and shows the whole world your drawers, you'll never live it down."

Miles' face changed as he grabbed his belt. "Nonsense! This is pure gold."

"Pure gold isn't that flimsy. Looks like a cheap trinket from a street peddler to me. Don't put on airs if you're short on coin, my lord. Even the stable boys at the Sutton estate wouldn't be caught dead in such rubbish."

Fuming, Miles raised his hand to strike. "You insufferable wench!"

But before his hand could even graze me, I collapsed onto the grass and started wailing at the top of my lungs. "Help! Lord Landon is beating a defenseless lady. Save me! He's out for blood!"

Edward stood by, barely hiding his loathing. "That's enough," he said coldly.

Miles went silent instantly. I cut my performance just as fast, sitting on the ground and looking up at him with the innocence of a newborn lamb.

Edward shot Miles a frosty glare. "Lord Landon, brawling with a woman in public? Have you no sense of propriety?"

Miles broke into a cold sweat and bowed. "Your Highness, please forgive me..."

"Hold your tongue." Edward had no patience for his excuses. He turned his gaze back to me, though it was now filled with nothing but indifference. "Ms. Beatrice... you are certainly one of a kind."

With that, he swept away, his cloak fluttering behind him.

That was a close shave. I'd finally managed to turn his stomach enough to make him leave.

I scrambled to my feet, made a face at Miles, then hiked up my skirt and bolted. As long as Edward didn't recognize me, Miles was small fry.

But little did I know, my nightmare was only just beginning.