Earl's Choice by Jess Michaels

Author:Jess Michaels [Michaels, Jess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Passionate Pen

Chapter 13

Sasha had said those words, but they rang in her ears as if they’d come from someone else’s lips. She meant them, but the danger that she was opening up for herself was new. She’d played double to wave out a carriage window before, to stand behind the old king on a terrace…but never had it been for such a desperate reason.

Never before had it truly resulted in a target being placed firmly on her chest.

The room was quiet—stunned, she thought. Grantham turned toward her, his eyes wide. “Sasha!” he gasped.

She shook her head. “Please don’t pretend that this isn’t exactly what my presence was always meant for. Ilaria’s schedule includes many events where observers will not get too close to her. Even those who do, most of them only have seen sketches of her in the papers.” She wished her voice didn’t tremble so hard. “I look close enough to pass if need be.”

“And what of the Earl of Bramwell?” the queen interjected. “He would know you weren’t Ilaria, so he would have to be told the truth.”

Sasha shut her eyes briefly. Thomas. She would have to stand in beside Thomas, pretend to be Ilaria. Be close to him as his future fiancée would soon be. Another torture on top of a torture. But by doing so, she protected his future, as well, didn’t she?

“Yes,” she whispered. “But I believe he and his mother could be trusted with this information. We could carry on just as you intended, only with me in the place of threat rather than Ilaria.”

Ilaria shook her head hard. “No. That is too dangerous.”

“That is what a double does,” Sasha said, and touched Ilaria’s face gently.

“You are more than my double,” Ilaria declared. “For God’s sake, you are my friend. My sister. Grantham, Mama, tell her this is outrageous. Unacceptable!”

Sasha didn’t allow the king or queen to do that. “It is because I am your friend and your…your sister that I am willing to take the risk. Now that the danger is known, I will be well-protected, I’m sure.”

Grantham ran a hand through his hair as he paced the room. “I don’t like this. I don’t like that we would endanger Sasha, nor that the rest of my family may be at risk. I don’t like that Ilaria would go away with Crawford. God’s teeth, this is a mess.” He rested both hands on the desktop and leaned heavily there.

A silence stretched for a moment and then Crawford cleared his throat. “I can protect her, Your Majesty. I vow that to you now. I will die if need be to see her through this.”

“Jonah,” Ilaria whispered, heedless, apparently, at how intimately she said his name.

Grantham glared at Crawford, but finally let out long sigh. “Fine. I see no other choice at present. Sasha, you and Remi go back to the house. Gather some of Ilaria’s things…quietly. She won’t return until we all feel this danger has subsided. No one else in the household must know what is happening.

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