Page 86 of Thrones We Steal

“Then I’m happy for you,” he says.

Even a child could see we’re both lying.

26

“Tailspin” - For You

After the emotional train wreck of my argument with Henry, I know I need to do something. I won’t survive thirty years of this cat-and-mouse game. Hell, I won’t survive another thirty days.

Leaving Wesbourne isn’t an option. I owe it to this country to stay and make a difference. Following Adelaide’s advice and distracting myself with Beck is a temporary reprieve, but his face isn’t the one that haunts me at night, no matter how badly I wish it was.

I need another way to escape Henry and the strange power he wields over me.

The answer is so simple I’m irritated to not have thought of it before.

“Wasn’t there a collection of old ship’s logs in the archive room at the Society?” I say.

Maisie looks up from the planner in her lap, realizing I haven’t been paying attention to her overview of my upcoming events. My mind is far away. On the shores of Ireland, to be exact.

“They’re on the shelf next to the census records. I think. Or they might be filed in Nautical History. Probably that one. Yes, I can almost visualize them in my mind. They’re just right there—” Her hands jut out in front of her like she’s bookending them on the shelf. “—between Wesbourne at Sea—”

“Maisie. Maisie.” I finally get her attention. “That’s great. I just need to know they’re there.”

“In that case, yes, they are there.” Her eyes grow quizzical behind her glasses. “What do we need with ship’s logs?”

“I’m doing some research,” I say. “On Queen Helena’s mysterious lover.”

She rubs her hands together in glee. “I love mysteries. They’re my drug of choice.”

I cock an eyebrow at this but don’t even attempt to hide my smile. I’m in too good of a mood. If my plan works, I might end up being the luckiest girl in the world. “I just need to find a record of him leaving Ireland.”

“Why? Oh, are you writing a blog post on the story? I’m sure people would love to hear your side of things! It would—”

“This has nothing to do with my blog.”

“What then?”

I wasn’t intending to tell her, but I’m so eager to talk about this brilliant plan that the words tumble out before I can stop them. “If I can find evidence that proves Helena had an affair, I can prove my right to the throne.”

She begins nodding in comprehension, but then her eyes cloud. “But you’re already being crowned in less than two months. Why do you need to prove anything?”

“Because I’m not being crowned alone. And if I can prove I’m the rightful monarch, I can annul my marriage to Henry and be crowned by myself.”

“But … why?”

“That part’s irrelevant.”

“It seems like an awful lot of trouble to go to for something that’s irrelevant. Did you guys have a fight?”

I almost laugh, but catch myself at the last second. “Let’s call it irreconcilable differences.”

“But you’re so good together!”

Now I allow myself a humorless laugh. “Henry and I are a lot of things. ‘Good together’ is not one of them. Now, let’s get back to the subject at hand. The logbooks.”

She frowns but says, “Do you know his name? Or the name of the ship? What about dates? Any idea when it was?” Her forehead wrinkles as she gets sucked into the project. “Wait. How do you know he came from Ireland, or sailed at all for that matter?”

I give her the condensed version of the letters Henry and I found. “We know she sent him money for the trip. We just need to confirm that he actually left.”

---