Free An Officer and a Princess by Carla Cassidy Page B

the insiders at the palace had orchestrated his “kidnapping” and circulated the rumor of his death.
    â€œNicholas, it’s so good to see you,” she said as he embraced her. She was vaguely aware of Adam joining them at the door.
    â€œAnd it’s a shock to see you.” Nicholas hugged her, then held her by the shoulders and eyed her from head to toe. “What on earth have you done to yourself?”
    â€œWhy don’t we talk about it inside?” Adam suggested.
    â€œOf course,” Nicholas said and together the three of them entered the small house.
    Inside, Nicholas’s wife Rebecca and the baby LeAnn greeted them. Isabel hugged her sister-in-law tightly while LeAnn gurgled in her playpen with excitement.
    Within minutes, the four of them were seated around a wooden table, drinking coffee and catching up on all the news.
    LeAnn sat on her mother’s lap, happily entertained with a ring of plastic keys.
    â€œHow long have you been here?” Isabel asked.
    â€œNot long,” Nicholas replied. “We’re moved on a regular basis.”
    â€œThe country is mourning your death.” Isabel studied her handsome brother with his dark hair and blue eyes. He wore the stress of the past few months. He appeared thinner and new lines creased his forehead.
    â€œObviously there are some people who are not mourning, but rather celebrating.” The lines in his forehead deepened.
    Isabel reached for his hand across the table. “The majority of Edenbourg mourns. The people long to have father and you back in your rightful positions.” She released his hand as he nodded.
    â€œSo, what are you two up to? What’s going on and why are you dressed like that?”
    Quickly Isabel told Nicholas and Rebecca whatshe and Adam were doing. “Unfortunately, we haven’t gained much information so far,” she finished.
    â€œActually, I have a little more to add,” Adam said. Isabel listened in astonishment as Adam told them what had transpired the night before between him and Blake Hariman.
    Hope soared inside her. Finally…finally they were making some headway. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?” she asked when he’d finished.
    â€œI’m telling you now.” His voice was even, but his eyes held an intensity she didn’t quite understand. It was the same look he’d had when he’d told her he needed to get out of the room, get away from the tavern for a little while.
    â€œWhat other news is there?” Nicholas asked, seemingly unaware of any tension.
    â€œWhen I spoke to mother last night, she mentioned that Edward is ill and is thinking perhaps it best if he cede the crown.”
    Nicholas frowned. “And that means unless we can untangle all this mess, Luke will take on the mantle of kingship.”
    â€œAnd I’m not sure I trust him,” Isabel said.
    Rebecca looked at her, her brown eyes widening in surprise. “Why? According to what I heard, he saved your life by shooting Shane Moore.”
    â€œI know.” Isabel didn’t know why she didn’t particularly care for her cousin Luke. Luke was outgoing and charming and obviously doted on his father. But, there had been occasions when Isabel thought she’d smelled alcohol on his breath at times of the day when drinking would have been inappropriate.
    She sighed. “I just wish we could find Father and everything could go back to the way it was.”
    â€œI just hope we find Father before it’s too late,” Nicholas said softly. Rebecca reached out and took her husband’s hand. Their love for one another was obvious and caused a wistful ache inside Isabel.
    â€œIt’s already too late for things to go back to the way they were,” Rebecca said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Isabel looked at her sister-in-law curiously.
    Rebecca smiled sadly. “We’ve all changed with this experience. The whole country