LONDON, ENGLAND
1837
four months after the birth of Princess Victoria

"You are in a mood, Kingfield."

Theo scowled at his new brother-in-law. He was in a mood. And it was a mood that was not made better by Lord Trotten pestering him.

"Why is it that you are even here, Will?" Theo shifted in his seat, tossing one leg over the other as he watched the other man relax back in the opposite armchair. He was getting comfortable—too comfortable. Theo sighed. "Don't you have other things to do?"

Will smirked, and Theo already knew that he would hate whatever came out of his mouth. "Do? You mean, like your sister? Yes, well, she is still sleeping after—"

"Can you not," Theo cut in with a growl. He had half a mind to throw his morning whiskey at Will. Instead, he said, "I should have challenged you to a duel when I had the chance."

Will threw his head back with a laugh. "Oh, come off it, Kingfield. What has really got your cravat in a twist?"

"Is this honestly why you've come? Simply to pester me?"

Will merely shrugged, but he had a knowing grin on his face that Theo would like to wipe off. He remembered how good it felt to hit that face once or twice.

"You've already gotten your hands on my sister—"

"—oh, I definitely have."

"What more do you want?" Theo finished with a scowl, his brain catching up with what Trotten had inserted.

Will merely sat there, an amused expression on his face. Theo should start requiring his visitors to state their purpose before admitting them. That might rid the errant visitor, specifically Lord Trotten or Lord Farrington, who seemed to show up with alarming frequency lately for absolutely no reason at all.

And Theo was not in the mood.

With a sigh, he said, "I do not have time for your games, Will."

Trotten lifted an annoying brow. "You do not? What precisely am I keeping you from attending to, Kingfield?"

Theo narrowed his eyes and threw back the rest of his whiskey, enjoying how it burned in his throat. As it turned out, there was nothing that Will was keeping him from. Naturally, Will knew this. And after a long moment, the viscount apparently took pity on him.

Sighing, Will said, "Look, I am simply here to distract you. Perhaps you might fancy a round of fencing at the club? Leo thought he might—"

"I do not need your pity, Trotten. Or Farrington's," Theo bit out. "And a round at the club is hardly going to take my mind off of it. I shall still be thinking of it and then promptly stick you in the face."

Although, now that Theo thought about it, perhaps sticking Will in the face wouldn't be so bad after all.

"That's what the mask is for, is it not?" Will said with a low chuckle. But when he saw Theo's face, his mouth set back into a thin line. "Alright, fine. So you do not wish to be distracted." There was a slight pause before Will ventured, "Would you prefer to talk about it?"

"What's to talk about?" Theo grumbled. "I cannot see Adelaide. I cannot see Victoria. I must simply wait." He dragged his hand over his face whilst saying, "I want to hold my daughter, Will."

Theo hadn't seen Victoria since the day she was born. Adelaide was still contained in the mourning period for Prince George, and Theo's presence at Bushy House would pose a risk to Adelaide's reputation and Victoria's legitimacy. So he was stuck here, wallowing on his own.

"At least you shall see her at Weston's."

Theo jerked his head up. "At Weston's?"

Will have him a curious glance. "Yes, have you not received the invitation? He is hosting Adelaide for a—"

"He is what?"

"Honestly, Kingfield, allow me to finish."

Theo impatiently sat back and did just that, his heart racing for the first time in so long. And when Will was finished explaining, Theo knew he would not be able to sleep for at least a fortnight. For in two weeks, Theo would see his princess.

Queen, rather.

He would see his queen.

Well, and his princess.

Theo had been in Weston's ballroom very few times. The older duke was not precisely an entertainer. That is, unless he was entertaining treasonous aristocrats in his cellar.

However, this was definitely not a gathering meant for a cellar. The ballroom was aglow with soft lighting, a low murmuring of chatter, and a feverish excitement among guests awaiting royalty. The orchestra was playing lively tunes, and drinks were being passed as though they were never-ending. No, it was not a gathering meant for a cellar.

It was an odd sort of affair, though; as Weston was a man without a wife, there was no hostess to brandish the ton's usual customs. Unusual, but Weston was an unusual duke. And regardless, he was holding the event for the sole purpose of making a point.

With Andrew, there was always a point.

The Duke of Weston was publicly announcing to London his ties with the new queen. And he was doing so in a way that he knew would make a splash.

Shit-stirrer, Andrew was. But then again, where would they be without him and all of his meddling?

It was rather debatable whether Adelaide should even be here. Though months had now passed since George's death, the queen was still encased in a period of mourning. Well, it would appear that she was in half-mourning now, Theo noted, watching as Adelaide gracefully slid into the room wearing a lilac-colored gown.

The gown was really inconsequential, though. Theo couldn't care less what she was wearing, just that she was here.

He could not take his eyes off her. Refused to, actually. Addie was every bit as beautiful as the last time he had seen her—on the day she had given birth to their child. But there was also a brightness to her that was new. A darkness had lifted. Her smile was genuine, her eyes sparkling with wit.

That wit of hers had only ever been barely concealed. But now, it was not concealed at all.

Theo could tell by her body language that she knew he was there. She was purposefully angled away from him, but as soon as she finished greeting Weston, her eyes flicked to the side. Toward Theo. She knew exactly where he was. She knew he was looking at her. But even as she carried on with her greetings, Adelaide carefully avoided Theo's gaze.

He continued to stare anyway, drinking her in.

"She looks so lovely tonight," Emilia's soft voice chimed in. Theo looked down to see his sister at his elbow.

"She is always lovely," Theo murmured before looking back at Adelaide. She must have lost at least a stone since he'd last seen her; the weight she'd carried along with the babe appeared to have melted off. But parts of Adelaide were just as voluminous, and Theo bit his lip, attempting not to tease himself by thinking of it.

Instead, Theo kept his attention on Addie's movements, and it became apparent that his frustration would not be relieved tonight. He gripped his glass harder as he watched Lord Wittier stride purposefully up to his future wife, taking her in with a gaze that Theo did not appreciate.

"Brother, dear," Emilia chastised in a clipped tone. "You are so terribly conspicuous. Could you at least try?"

"I am trying," Theo ground out between his teeth. "I have not even approached her, Emilia."

"There you are," Will said, coming up behind Theo's sister, nearly out of breath. "Emilia, darling. Stop disappearing on me. Also, you forgot your gloves over there."

"I wished for lemonade," Emilia said, raising her glass to show him after snatching her gloves from Will's hand.

"Yes, but you simply vanish—" Upon seeing Emilia's expression, Will cut himself off. He gave his head a little exasperated shake before grumbling, "I did not know how challenging it would be to contain my own wife."

"You should know better than to even try," Theo replied dryly before winking at his sister. Emilia flashed a coy grin.

"Fair enough," Will muttered back, but Theo caught the way he slid his hand onto the small of Emilia's back anyway.

Theo very much wished that he could be doing the same to Adelaide at the moment.  While she might not have permitted such a possessive gesture at an affair like this, Theo at least wished for the chance to stand beside her. Then he could send off ill-intentioned men with his glare.

Cocking his head to the side, Theo wondered how much Weston and Adelaide would chastise him if he went over there right—

Emilia sighed. "You must be patient, Theo."

He glanced over at her sharply and raised a brow.

"It is all over your face," she explained. "While I am impressed that you have not stormed across the room yet, your desire to do so is quite clear. Patience, brother."

The problem was that patience wasn't exactly a skill of Theo's—especially not with the scene across the ballroom. He grunted his displeasure and readied a retort for Emilia, but the words disappeared as Addie turned her head.

She looked at him.

Addie could feel his eyes on her.

She was attempting to listen to what Lord Wittier had to say, but Theo's attention made it rather difficult. His gaze made her feel hot and uncomfortable in her mourning clothes. She could feel the blush rising on her cheeks, both from the crowded ballroom and from Theo's heated stare.

Addie was trying desperately not to look at him. She knew once she did that she would not be able to go on walking and talking as if she were unaffected by Theodore Shepard, the Duke of Kingfield.

Lord Wittier finally bid her farewell, and in the absence of company, she gave in to temptation. The pull toward Theo was too strong. Adelaide had never been able to resist him, and tonight was no different.

Theo's green eyes lit up and then quickly darkened as she turned to face him. He was strapping and handsome in his evening wear, and his golden hair was begging to be tousled as he tilted his head to the side, slowly taking her in.

God, Theo. How she had missed him in her life these last months. How she wished he could be there every day with her and Victoria. Soon, Addie reminded herself. Soon.

But right now, he was here. Merely paces from her, Theo leaned against a pillar, eyes dancing above the rim of a glass as he took a sip. When he lowered the drink again, displaying a devilish smile, Adelaide knew that her suspicions had been correct. She couldn't remain unaffected by Theo.

So she spun on her heel, trying not to rush as she headed out of the ballroom. Hopefully, Theo would follow her. She needed Theo to follow her. She needed Theo.

Surely this was a safer option than to try to tame the dangerous dance that would have undoubtedly ensued in Weston's ballroom. They needed to escape the ton's watchful eyes before it was too late. She would make up some excuse or another later.

Addie barely made it five steps down the dark hallway before footsteps sounded behind her. She should likely look over her shoulder to ensure that it was actually Theo, but she worried that she would not be able to continue walking away if she were to do that. They simply would not make it into private quarters.

The footsteps were moving at a faster pace than she was. They echoed in the corridor, growing louder as Addie rounded the corner, searching for Weston's library.

No sooner did she find it and step into it than hands appeared on her waist. Theo pulled her against him, his deep voice murmuring in her ear, breathing her name. The door slammed behind them, and Theo spun Addie around, not wasting a single moment before pushing her against the nearest bookshelf. He covered her body with his hard one, pressing into her with a roughness that delighted her. Addie's surprised gasp went unheard in the dark room; Theo caught it with his mouth, kissing her eagerly.

"Theo," she moaned against his lips, which were roving over hers.

His hand flew up, capturing her face in his grasp. He tilted her head back, giving him a better angle in which to kiss her deeply. Addie whimpered lightly, and Theo reciprocated with a groan as his tongue flicked against hers. The desperation in this kiss was unlike any other; they had been apart for so long, and being together was what they both needed to fully breathe.

A shiver ran through Theo, and Addie marveled at the fact that she could have such an effect on a man like the Duke of Kingfield.

Breaking from her mouth only so he could drag his lips along the corridor of her neck, Theo groaned, "I hate that the world does not know that you are mine."

"I know, Theo," Addie gasped, arching against the hard shelf so that he could have better access. "I know that I am yours."

Theo took that moment to reach down and hoist Addie into his arms. As best as she could, given her attire, Addie wrapped her legs around his hips while letting Theo continue what he was doing with his mouth.

"Do you, though?" Theo murmured against her throat. The vibration of his lips made music inside Addie, such as a cello string when it was plucked. God, Theo was playing her like she was an instrument only he had mastered. "Perhaps I should remind you," he breathed, "just on the off-chance that you have forgotten."

Adelaide could never forget such a thing. Theo knew this.

But she also enjoyed the idea of being reminded. Theo knew this as well.

He carried her to the settee, carefully dropping her onto it as he pinned Addie to the cushions beneath him. And then Theo found her mouth again, kissing her with an abandon she understood all too well. Nothing mattered except for this feeling—the feeling only Theo could provide. His hands ran down the length of her and then back up, pausing to grasp her breast in his palms.

"God, Adelaide, I've—"

A lively voice interrupted. "I have brought the—oh heavens, I should have known."

Theo sprung off Addie, whipping around to glare at the door as Lord Farrington's amused face quickly disappeared from it. When it was shut again, he called through the thick wood.

"I only meant to bring Tory to see you, Kingfield."

Theo's brows furrowed as he popped up from the settee. Striding to the door, Addie heard him mutter, "Who the devil left our daughter in the care of Farrington."

Addie tried to catch her breath before saying, "Emilia said that he's surprisingly good with children."

She rushed after Theo, wanting to see his reaction to seeing Victoria. She had grown so much while they were apart. The only reason Addie had brought Victoria, considering she must be hidden from the rest of the guests at the affair, was for this moment. This moment when Theo would see her.

Addie was not disappointed. As Theo yanked the door open, his entire expression softened. Farrington handed the child along with a smile, and Theo's lips similarly turned up as he held their daughter.

"Look at those blue eyes," he murmured, rocking her gently. Theo glanced over at Addie, meaningfully taking in her own blue eyes with a loving expression that nearly hurt to feel.

Soon, she reminded herself. Soon they could be together.

Addie noticed that Farrington had disappeared, and she pulled on Theo's arm so they could withdraw into the library once more. They sank back into the settee together, and Theo seemed reluctant to look away from Victoria. But Addie got his attention again by whispering, "I think we should begin to plan the announcement of our betrothal."

Theo's eyes immediately flicked to hers.

A smile broke free on his face, and Adelaide couldn't wait.

She simply could not wait to see that smile every day.

When readers asked for more content with Victoria, I'm guessing they were probably looking for something when the princess was a bit older.
But I just couldn't pass up an opportunity for a bit more forbidden romance between Addie & Theo. I'm sorry, it's my favorite!
Also grumpy Theo + Will.
I'll do more with Victoria another time.
Hope you enjoyed regardless!
xoxo amelie