Chapter Fifty-Nine

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

J ack put out his arms and Lillian came towards him.

‘Lillian, darling, I’m so sorry.’

He pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to her, and realised his own hands were shaking.

His mother carefully wiped her eyes.

‘How is Grace?’ he asked.

‘She seemed to be managing very well before I went on stage.’ She turned to the prince. ‘Grace is having the baby.’

‘Good Lord.’ The prince blinked.

‘And Tom and Sally Blow are engaged, Jack.’

Jack settled his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. His heart was thudding in his chest – a mix of revulsion and relief, making him shudder. ‘Good for them. You were magnificent then, Lillian. I wish Nikolai could have seen you. I’ll tell him in great detail, when he’s done shoring up the new king.’

‘Thank you, sir,’ Dixon said to the prince. ‘I don’t want to go to an asylum. He just wants to control my money, you see.’

‘Really? How ghastly. Glad to be of assistance, Mr Wells,’ the prince replied. ‘One rarely has a chance to make use of one’s princely powers, so it’s rather fun taking them out for a run. Treadwell, I realise it’s a busy evening, but I really think we should discuss who tried to blow us up. Don’t think I’ve done anything in particular to offend recently, though there’s always the occasional anarchist who tries to take a pop at me or someone else in the family just to make a general point.’

Osman smoothed down his shirtsleeves. ‘I’m afraid it was an attempt on Stefan, sir. I have no doubt that when they learnt that, in spite of months of them trying to poison him against Nikolai, he had arranged a visit here and a meeting, they decided to act.’

‘King’s death came at a very convenient moment, didn’t it? And did you see Taargin’s face? I don’t think he was expecting us to stroll in. Sticky.’ The prince peered out through the viewing window. ‘Right, well, we’d better broach the subject with Stefan himself.’ He opened the door. ‘Come along, everyone.’

‘Jack,’ Lillian said, laying a hand on his arm, ‘I’m so sorry you had to find out this way.’

He drew breath. Every nerve jangled and his skin felt clammy and cold. ‘I meant what I said, Lillian. I was raised by good, kind people who I loved, and who loved me. Do you think Sir Gideon will leave the country? I’d happily never think of the man again.’

‘I hope so,’ said Dixon as he shuffled past them. ‘Life will be much more pleasant for my mother and sister.’