Beating the System

by E V Darcy

  ‘What do you mean? The gas explosion was an accident. Right?’ Victoria’s gaze slid between Hattie’s and Marcus’, over to their cousin and back to Marcus again. ‘Right?’

  Hattie scoffed and leaned back on the sofa. ‘Oh, the secrets our family keeps. One day they’re all going to come tumbling out and the world is going to destroy the lot of us.’

  ‘But not today, Henrietta,’ Katrine said as she took a seat.

  Hattie sighed. ‘No, of course not, Grammy. Not today.’

  ‘Just the one will be revealed today, and it will stay in this room.’ The Queen smoothed down the legs of the tailored trousers she always wore when not in the public’s eye—much more practical than dresses, she always said. ‘Well, unless you want Philippa and Alexandra to know too?’ The older woman levelled her gaze at Hattie, who merely shrugged. She wasn’t interested in attention for what had happened, but she’d also assumed her sisters had been told the full extent of what had taken place that day. Apparently, she’d been wrong. Really, it was her own fault; she should have known with it being her family.

  But it was an easy mistake to make. The assumption taken from when they’d come fussing afterwards, talking about how awful it was, a terrible tragedy. When they’d referred to it as an accident, she’d assumed they’d been trying to convince themselves that there wasn’t anything more to it. Hell, she’d been convinced there wasn’t any more danger to herself and had refused the protection Marcus had offered.

  And with the security updates being clear in the weeks since, it had completely slipped her mind why she’d even had officers with her when she’d attended Jensen’s funeral. It wasn’t because she was at risk, Roman was the perceived threat. She’d only recalled that titbit in her grandfather’s office.

  She lifted her feet and rested them on the couch beneath her, her knees bent so she could bury her face between them. She folded her arms over her head, letting out a small cry of frustration before she lifted her head again, her arms clamped around her still bent legs.

  ‘It wasn’t an accident,’ she repeated to everyone. ‘There was no gas explosion. There was a bomb under the car Jensen was in; he was dressed like Roman and acting like him, trying, for some random reason, to get people to believe he was Roman.’

  ‘Why would he do that?’ Cormac asked. Hattie rolled her eyes and shook her head as she recalled the amount of times Jensen had tried to step into Roman’s shoes and convince her he was his brother.

  ‘Because my brother was a pain in the arse,’ Roman growled and Hattie could feel his stare on her again.

  ‘He was a prankster,’ Hattie clarified. ‘Roman and Jensen had very different senses of humour.’

  Victoria snorted. ‘I remember his pranks. I seem to recall you ended up in England, half dressed and with no passport. I had to beg Daddy to fetch you home.’

  ‘Yes, well, it was funny at the time.’ Hattie sniffed, biting back the sting of tears as she recalled Jensen’s amusement at the whole thing when she and Julia had found him six months later in a bar in Thailand. She’d nearly killed him. Yet, she’d do it all again, if only it would bring her friend back.

  The room fell silent for a few moments; Hattie wondered what everyone was considering when none of them had known the friend she’d lost.

  Victoria frowned as she mentally looked at all the evidence. Victoria’s eyes, lips parted slightly, and Hattie knew she’d put the pieces together.

  ‘A car bomb wouldn’t cause as much devastation as I saw on the news…’ she began, her scowl deepening as she thought further. ‘It would go upwards and out, it wouldn’t destroy the road and cause the street to slide onto the beach, would it?’

  Damn, her sister was good. How she had done so poorly at school, Hattie had no idea.

  ‘No,’ Hattie said, glaring at Marcus. ‘He blew up my house. He blew up the whole street!’

  ‘What!’ Cormac and Victoria said at the same time turning to Hattie.

  ‘Yes, you said that in the office,’ Roman said as he turned back to her. ‘Care to explain?’

  ‘He should be the one explaining.’ Hattie jabbed her finger towards Marcus. ‘It’s insane! They blew the whole place up, just in case Conner O’Malley might have had something to do with it.’ And just like that, four pairs of eyes turned to her. She stared back at each of them, her jaw set in defiance. She wasn’t the one who’d destroyed people’s homes, ruined a beautiful beach, and caused mayhem with the water and electric supplies in the area on the off chance someone on the national security radar had planted the bomb.

  ‘Why the hell did you keep this from me?’

  Hattie was about to snap back an angry retort at her sister when she realised Victoria wasn’t talking to her. Instead, she was glaring at Alistair.

  ‘Him’—she pointed over her shoulder with her thumb towards Marcus—‘I get. He’ll give the old need to know basis bullshit he always does.’ Marcus opened his mouth ready to defend himself, but Victoria pre-empted him. ‘Don’t try and deny it, Marcus. But you, Alistair, don’t get to use that line.’

  ‘Victoria, there are times when I’m not going to be able to tell you these sorts of things,’ he pleaded, trying to reason with her. ‘When I’m King, the nation’s security will be on my shoulders and it’ll be something I will have to burden alone.’

  Victoria’s glare softened into something more akin to pity. Shaking her head, she told him, ‘No, Alistair, that’s what Grandfather decided to do because his uncle, the Prince Regent, told him to. He could have reformed the Royal Council when he became King, but he didn’t. You could.’

  ‘Now isn’t the time for all this,’ Katrine said, interrupting them. ‘We need to discuss keeping my granddaughter and my great grandbaby safe and well.’

  ‘But,’ Cormac began, his face marred by confusion. ‘If it was your brother who was targeted by O’Malley—’

  ‘That isn’t confirmed,’ Marcus reminded him, but Cormac ignored the man and continued on.

  ‘—why does Hattie need protection? Unless they’—his green eyes went wide—‘thought he was you. You were the target.’

  Everyone’s eyes turned to Roman, but he had his gaze held on the Head of the Guard. ‘Apparently so. You failed to mention that to me during your unexpected visit, Captain Walker.’

  ‘You didn’t tell him?’ Hattie asked, horrified. Roman had been walking around for over a month without being aware that his life was potentially in danger. Victoria turned to the Guardman, throwing her hands up in air. ‘What else aren’t you telling us?’ she cried, but Marcus just ignored her.

  ‘I advised the Head of Security at Seymour Medical, who said they would discuss it with the senior Mr Tyrrell.’ Marcus shrugged his shoulders as he spread his hands wide as if to say what can you do?

  ‘Why would someone want you dead?’ Victoria asked as she dropped to the coffee table in front of Roman. Her caramel eyes met his amber ones and Hattie held her breath. Victoria didn’t like to back down when she needed to know something, and Roman wasn’t exactly an open book.

  ‘I don’t know.’ Victoria narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, considering him. ‘I honestly don’t. Trust me, I’d tell you if I did; I don’t want any harm coming to Henrietta or our baby.’

  Something within Hattie turned warm and gooey at the concern in Roman’s voice and the honesty in his words.

  Victoria took a deep breath and released it slowly, before she finally said, ‘Okay, I believe you.’ And as quickly as she sat down, she was up again, pacing the room as she thought and worried. Hattie resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Everyone fell silent again as they mulled over the new information.

  ‘Is there any reason O’Malley might have to target you?’ Hattie asked. ‘Did you deny him a deal or go against him in a tender? Did your chauffeur cut him up on a road somewhere? Anything at all?’ Roman frowned down at the table where Victoria had sat before he raised his eyes to hers. She could see he was thinking, deep and hard, before he slowly
shook his head.

  ‘I’ve heard of him of course, I know of him, and I’ve seen him around a few events, but I’ve never actually met the man himself. Never had the inclination to do so nor ever needed to.’ Hattie heard a deep sigh of relief coming from Victoria.

  ‘We closed that avenue of investigation off for that exact reason; nothing to link the two of you together.’ Roman nodded, but Hattie could tell he was still thinking.

  She shifted in her seat as she worried at her nails. She should tell them, should say something about what she’d seen that morning, but she couldn’t even be sure that it was O’Malley she’d spied. And if it had been, did she want to open up that can of worms in front of everyone? Especially, in front of the man who could immediately arrest Roman on suspicion of working with the bastard.

  Roman’s hand closed over her fidgeting fingers. ‘Henrietta?’

  She looked up and caught his eyes. He knew she wasn’t telling them everything, and his eyes told her not to hold anything back. How did he still know her so well after all these years?

  She glanced around at the group; again, everyone stared her way. Sighing and relaxing her hands under Roman’s, her shoulders slumped and she dropped her head back to the sofa’s cushion. She kept her eyes closed as she finally admitted, ‘I think I saw O’Malley at Seymour Medical today.’

  There was a moment’s silence before five voices started at once. A discorded chorus rising in volume as each tried to be heard over the over. Finally, a loud piercing whistle made Hattie cover her ears and the rest fall silent.

  They turned to look at Katrine who slowly pulled her fingers from her mouth and then stared back at the lot of them as if she’d done absolutely nothing and had no idea why they were looking her way.

  Marcus was the first to recover. ‘How sure are you that it was O’Malley?’

  Hattie twisted in her seat. ‘I don’t know. I only caught a glimpse of him as the lift doors were closing, and he was focused on his phone, but, I mean, how many other guys are there who are that short with hair like his? Oh, and are surrounded by two huge beefcakes of bodyguards?’

  ‘I’ll call the head of security over there and ask them to pull their tapes.’

  ‘That won’t help you,’ Roman immediately replied. ‘There was a system failure in the early hours of this morning, and the whole thing was being fixed when I left earlier.’ His brows pulled into a deep frown. ‘There’s been a few failures over the last year or so. I’ve mentioned to my father a number of times we need to change the whole thing out, but he’s adamant with sticking with what we have—the cost wouldn’t be worth it he said.’

  ‘So, he wasn’t coming to see you?’ Hattie asked quietly. Roman turned to her, his face softening and the corners of his lips turned up ever so slightly as he shook his head.

  ‘Where you worried he was? Was that why you came in like a hurricane?’ She felt her cheeks flush at being caught out.

  ‘Maybe?’ His hand, still holding her fingers, lightly squeezed hers.

  ‘I’m afraid that seals it,’ Marcus said. ‘The two will need a full protection detail. We’ll move you to Renfrew Hall this evening and—’

  ‘No!’ Both Hattie and Victoria shouted. Hattie lunged off the couch, standing tall as she stared, aghast at the Guardsman. ‘I am not going back there.’

  ‘She can stay with us at The Manor.’

  ‘No, they cannot.’ A new voice to the room interrupted them. The group turned their attention to where the monarch stood between. He’d entered without anyone hearing and stood as tall as his small, stooped frame allowed, but Hattie noticed he held something in his hands, turning the little box over and over between his fingers, just as he had with his glasses earlier. He cleared his throat, calling her attention back to his eyes, and when he was sure she was fully focused on him, said, ‘If they want protection from my guards, they will remove themselves to the Hall, immediately.’

  ‘I don’t want your protection!’ Hattie snarled. ‘I never asked for it, I’ve never needed it!’

  ‘If she’s at The Manor,’ Victoria tried in a more reasonable tone. ‘They’ll be no need for an additional team; we’re already covered.’

  ‘As my dear wife pointed out earlier, Henrietta is carrying the first royal great-grandchild. Renfrew Hall is a long-protected building, it is the safest unoccupied royal home available.’

  Victoria tried again, and for once, Hattie was grateful for her sister’s presence. ‘But I don’t understand why—’

  ‘Marcus, you’ll arrange for Mr Tyrrell to pack his things and have them sent to the Hall at the earliest. Henrietta, your things are already on their way.’

  ‘My things?’ Her mouth dropped open as she realised what he meant. ‘You went through my things without my consent!’

  The King took a breath and stared at her as if she were more trouble than she was worth. Good. She wanted him to forget about her, to cast her aside as too much bother and leave her the hell alone once and for all.

  ‘No, Alexandra was very insistent that my men stay outside while she packed for you. She’s even accompanied them to the Hall and is adamant on staying until you get there. I have to say, it’s nice to finally see you lot getting on.

  ‘Now, off you go,’ he called casually as he turned to leave the room again. ‘And hopefully I won’t have cause to speak to you until the first of May.’

  Everyone looked at each other, slightly confused at the very specific date. It wasn’t a public holiday, nor was there any state event planned—not that Hattie was aware of at any rate.

  ‘What’s the happening on the first?’ Alistair called after him.

  ‘Why, their wedding of course.’

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘I’ve made a few phone calls,’ Victoria told Hattie as she once again wrapped her in a hug. Hattie figured if she was going to be residing in a royal residence for some time, she better get used to hugging, it might be the only way they’d be able to communicate securely to one another. The idea of being wrapped in Roman’s arms sent shivers down her spine and not for all the right reasons.

  ‘I’ll meet you at Renfrew, Alexi is already there causing hell with the staff’—Hattie snorted at the image of her sister playing queen of the castle—‘and I’m going to loan you Merryweather and Chloe until you can get your own place. I’m hoping I can get them there this evening.’

  ‘Is Chloe the one with the panic attacks?’ Hattie asked a bit overwhelmed by how quickly her sister was able to move.

  ‘She’s doing much better and she’s good at her job.’ Victoria gave her one last quick squeeze before adding, ‘And she’s loyal to the right party.’

  Ah. Yes. Best to have a maid she’d have to help than one reporting back to Dick. Hattie was used to doing her own cooking and cleaning, and while Renfrew was the smallest of the royal estates, it was still considerably bigger than her own little beach house had been.

  ‘—was nice to meet you, my lord.’

  Hattie pulled away from Victoria and turned to watch the two men. Cormac’s cheeks flushed pink, and Hattie was still amazed that he hadn’t been eaten alive by her royal relatives—not that Victoria let them get near him. Her eyes flickered to her fiancé as the two men joked, and she knew that she’d have no such worries. No, she’d quite happily watch Artie try and tackle Roman; she knew who her money would be on.

  ‘He’s certainly handsome and very charming,’ Victoria mused as she followed Hattie’s gaze. ‘And I heard he stood up for you against Grandfather.’

  ‘He did.’

  ‘You will be careful, won’t you?’ Hattie glanced up at her eldest sister who stared back at her with worry clouding her eyes. ‘He’s a powerful man, Hattie, and used to getting what he wants, when he wants. I imagine that maybe not everything that transpired today was your idea?’ Victoria raised a brow in question and heat flooded to her cheeks; she wanted to both admire and damn her sister for being able to read the situation so accurately. ‘I thought as muc
h,’ Victoria said, sighing. ‘Don’t let him rule the roost and don’t fall for his lines. Remember, you’re a Snape.’

  Hattie swallowed at the reminder as she turned back to watch the two men sharing pleasantries; a barrier between the sisters and the two waiting officers who were to become Hattie and Roman’s shadows from here on in. Hattie suppressed the shudder at the thought of constantly being followed by the pair. But Tweedledee and Tweedledum were going to be the least of her worries. Every move they made would be watched, every meal they ate would be logged somewhere, the number of hours they slept noted. The very vivid image of the maids checking her bed of a morning to count how many nights they spent together, shagging like rabbits, popped into her mind. Her horrified eyes quickly sought her sister again and she had the sudden urge to pull Victoria into another hug. But Victoria had already foreseen such reporting and was nipping it in the bud by giving them her very trusted staff.

  ‘You’ll be okay,’ Victoria said with an encouraging smile, as if she could read her mind. But Hattie knew she didn’t need to; Victoria had played this game for so long, she knew every trick up Dick’s sleeve.

  Roman’s rich, warm laugh caught her attention and again Hattie had to wonder why he was so willing to give up his carefree life with a woman who had happily let him sleep around and get away with murder, to live in such a nightmare with her? There had to be something more to it than her name and fortune, and the doors that would supposedly open as he’d said earlier? Surely, no one would be willing to put up with all this when they didn’t have to? When he realised how trapped he was, was he going to back out?

  Maybe, he’d announce to the world the truth of the baby’s parentage and get himself off the hook? He could say that she’d tricked him, that she had already known about the baby when they slept together. After all, he wouldn’t be able to rescind that part of their story; he couldn’t look to be complicit in the duplicity of her scam.

  Or maybe he’d simply get whatever it was he really wanted from her and leave her high and dry holding the baby?