Masters of the Game (Sutherland Book 4)

XXVII | Summer

"We should definitely get Worthington back. His sister has written us a rather long threat."

He kissed her temple. "Of course."

"And we need to move Reginald. He's getting bored."

"Leo will join him. I'm certain his boredom shall end soon."

"Don't give me a nightmare, darling. Not while I'm awake."

West laughed. Sasha smiled, half of her thinking about Gabrielle and the choice she would make.

*****

"Why do you have to make it difficult?" Ellise asked.

They had reached Greene's estate and were preparing to cross to Islefield. All the while, Gabrielle had been very uncooperative.

Not getting an answer, Ellise pointed at the dress on the bed. "That's just a dress. You put it on and you are still the same person."

The woman stared her up and down with raised brows. "I don't see you in one."

"That's because I am not yet in one," she said. "Put on the dress."

"Or what?"

"Or I'll have Fairborne do it for you."

Gabrielle's jaw tightened. Ellise smiled and stepped back. "I'll be back in half an hour. By then, I hope we shall both be in a dress."

Thirty minutes later, Robert and Rider stood silently on the threshold of the room while the two women, one dressed in a green dress, the other in blue, stared at each other. It was the oddest encounter they had to witness. Both women looked utterly uncomfortable.

"Now that we are off to a good start, may I proceed in relaying our plans?" Ellise asked.

Gabrielle may have been stripped of her shirt and breeches, but not her pride. She kept her silence.

"You will join us in Islefield where your family is waiting."

Robert did not expect Gabrielle's reaction. He expected her to be surprised, yes, but he did not expect the flash of panic that crossed her eyes.

"Why would you hand me over to them?" Gabrielle asked.

"Because they have two of our own. Quite clever of them, actually. Don't you agree?" Gabrielle did not answer. "But," Ellise said, pausing at the word until Gabrielle met her gaze, "if you do not wish to join them, I have another plan."

Gabrielle scoffed. "What makes you think I will not join them?"

Ellise shrugged. "For one, the Vandenbergs are out to get Belcourt."

"So are you."

"Well, no longer. The Royal Circus and your family have reached a temporary truce. We are not to intrude in their plans to reclaim Belcourt from Arielle and we, the Circus, will stop Napoleon's army from setting foot on Sutherland."

"You will stop the French so Reginald can return to power."

"That's what Reginald wants, yes. But that does not mean the Royal Circus has to agree. Unlike the women of Belcourt, we get to vote on things."

"But don't you serve the true king of this kingdom, as you call him?"

"Of course. But there are two of them, you see. Reginald is one, and the other is his heir. Leo wants something else, and he won the vote of the majority."

What Ellise said was true. Leo wanted something else. It was preposterous, but it made sense. At this point, priorities had shifted, much to Reginald's disappointment. He wanted to return to the throne as soon as possible, but as soon as possible was not possible. There were too many factions, most of whom favoring the French because of Belcourt. The Vandenbergs and the Royal Circus were the minorities now.