“I’m going to face the other direction.” So she wouldn’t be tempted to do something stupid—like kiss him. She rolled over. His arm remained draped over her hip, his hand now on her stomach.
“Goodnight, Reid.” He kissed the back of her head. “Sweet dreams.”
Closing her eyes, she listened to Dexter’s breathing as it evened out. Before she knew it, she fell into a deep sleep.
Peeling her eyelids open, Reid blinked at the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Dexter laid on his side with his head propped on his hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She rubbed her eyes, then stretched.
Dexter raised his eyebrows. “I think I could get used to this.”
“What?” she asked, sitting up.
Shaking his head, he slid out of bed. “Let’s go eat breakfast so we can leave.”
Reid liked the sound of that. After getting out of bed, she pulled on her boots while Dexter opened the door. Anna stood there with her arms crossed, her face expressionless.
“Morning,” Dexter said, blocking the doorway. “Is there something you need?”
“I want a moment alone with Reid.”
“Don’t we all?” Dexter murmured. “We were just heading downstairs for breakfast.”
“Excellent. You go to the dining room. I will escort Reid there in a few minutes.”
“Give me a moment.” He stepped back, closing the door in Anna’s face. “Do you want to talk to her?”
Reid wasn’t prepared to have any sort of in-depth conversation with her mother. Too much anger and hurt filled her to be able to speak calmly.
Dexter came over to Reid, placing his large hands on her shoulders. “How about she comes in here to talk to you while I remain outside in the hallway? If you need me, all you have to do is raise your voice and I’ll come in.”
While Reid appreciated the gesture, she didn’t want to rely on others. “You can go to breakfast. I’ll be along shortly.”
Instead of questioning her or arguing, Dexter simply inclined his head and exited the room, leaving the door open.
Not wanting to talk to Anna inside the bedchamber, Reid stepped into the hallway. “You wanted to see me?” At least out here, Reid had an escape route.
“When we spoke at the Knights’ headquarters, we discussed your relationship with Prince Dexter.”
“We did?” Reid felt a swell of uneasiness.
Anna stepped closer. “I told you not to get involved with him.”
“No. You told me to gain his trust so I could figure out what he was doing at night.” As soon as the words were out, Reid realized she’d made an error. While she had discovered Dexter was meeting with a group of revolutionaries, she hadn’t informed the Knights about it.
“And?” Anna asked. “What have you learned?”
“Nothing that will help our cause.” Reid laced her hands together, trying to appear calm and in control.
“What, exactly, is our cause?” Anna moved even closer, until their toes almost touched.
Reid often wondered that very same thing. “I thought the Knights were protectors of the Marsden people.”
“We are. Which is why I’m telling you not to get emotional on me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means that while I need you to marry Dexter, I don’t want you to fall in love with him.”
How could Reid’s mother be so cold?
“Don’t look at me like that,” Anna snapped. “This is business. We can’t let our feelings get in the way. If you allow Dexter to ensnare you, it will be your demise. Don’t be so weak as to let a man lead you astray. Stay firm to your beliefs. If you play this right, you will be ruling over Dexter instead of him over you. Then, when you establish your reign, we can eliminate him. As the queen of Marsden, you will not need a man by your side.” Her mother’s eyes flashed with triumph.
Reid recalled the conversation she’d had with Dexter a few weeks ago. He’d said he didn’t want to fall in love because he didn’t want another person to have control over him. While Reid might not have experienced love before, she knew enough to understand that ruling over or controlling another person wasn’t what it entailed. She had too much respect for Dexter to manipulate him. He was his own person, and she would not impose herself upon him.
As far as eliminating him? She couldn’t believe her mother had concocted this entire plan to put Reid on the throne. She didn’t know anything about this woman—nor did she want to. “Maybe it was a blessing you left us when I was only a baby. I’m not sure you are qualified to raise children.” With that, she hurried away from Anna, striding along the hallway to the staircase. She practically fell down the steps in her haste to escape.
At the bottom, a strong hand wrapped around her wrist, yanking her into an empty room. The person pulled her against his body, a hand covering her mouth.
“It’s me,” Ackley whispered. “Don’t say anything. I’ll explain more later. When we meet in the dining room, don’t reveal our destination is Ellington. If anyone asks, we are going to the City of Buckley. Idina and Leigh are there. Understand?”
Reid nodded.
Ackley pushed her back into the hallway. Alone again, she wondered what that had been about. Were Idina and Leigh in danger from the Knights? Reid made her way to the dining room. She hadn’t even had breakfast, yet the day was already off to a terrible start.
Entering the dining room, she found her grandparents, Constance and Gregor, speaking quietly with one another. “Good morning.” She took a seat.
Conversation immediately ceased.
Constance fiddled with her spoon. “I want to apologize,” she said to Reid. “I’m sorry we lied about your mother. That we didn’t tell you she was alive.”
Reid forced a smile. “I understand why you did it.” After all, they’d only just met her. Plus, Dexter had been with her. Perhaps if she’d been alone, they would have told her the truth.
Constance stood, running her hands down the front of her dress. “I was just about to take your grandfather out to the lake for a bit. He likes to watch the ducks. Would you care to join us?”
Didn’t they know their kingdom was on the verge of war? How could they be so calm? “Thank you for the invite. However, after I eat, I have some things to take care of.”
“If you change your mind,” Gregor said, “you know where we’ll be.”
Constance came up behind him, using the handles on the back of his chair to maneuver him out from under the table. The wheels on the chair appeared large enough to traverse over the gravel path outside. However, Reid wondered if he could get upstairs. Gregor’s bedchamber must be on the first floor. Constance rolled him out of the dining room.
Reid surveyed the offered fare, taking a bowl of oatmeal. Colbert, Dexter, Ackley, Gordon, and Markis entered the room. They sat around the table, but no one talked as they grabbed fruit and bread off the platters. A moment later, Tatum entered, followed by Anna. Just being in the same room as her mother put Reid on edge. She didn’t trust the woman.
Gordon cleared his throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “After breakfast, I’m leaving.”