Chapter 12 - The Queen Finally Chose Her Son
Adrian's confinement lasted three hours.
Marcus underestimated Beatrice.
Perhaps everyone had.
At four fifteen in the afternoon, a servant entered Adrian's room carrying tea.
She placed the tray down.
Then whispered, "Your mother says the white queen is dead."
Adrian looked at her.
"What?"
The servant removed a key from beneath the teapot.
"Her words, sir."
Adrian understood.
For thirty years Beatrice had lived as a symbol.
Perfect clothes.
Perfect posture.
Perfect obedience to monarchy.
The white queen.
If she said that woman was dead, something had changed.
Adrian unlocked the service door.
Rowan waited behind it.
"You aren't arrested?"
"Not anymore."
"What happened?"
"Your mother happened."
Beatrice had spent decades memorizing every emergency protocol in Bellmont.
Marcus had authority over the Royal Guard.
He did not have authority over the Household Protection Unit, a tiny ceremonial security force answerable personally to the Queen.
There were only twelve of them.
But twelve were enough to free Rowan, Gabriel, and Julian.
"Where is Evelyn?"
Adrian asked.
Rowan's silence answered.
"They took her?"
"Twenty minutes ago."
Adrian's vision narrowed.
"Alexander?"
"With her."
"Where?"
"Motorcade heading north."
Adrian moved toward the armory.
Julian stepped from another corridor.
"Adrian."
"Stay away from me."
"I know the northern roads."
"So do I."
"The main route is a trap."
Adrian stopped.
Julian said, "Marcus expects you to follow."
"Good."
"No."
Julian grabbed his arm.
"Think."
Adrian pulled away.
"My wife and son are in his hands."
"And if you die on the road?"
Adrian stared at him.
Julian's voice softened.
"Then everything she survived means nothing."
Beatrice approached wearing a dark military coat over her black dress.
Adrian looked at her.
"You knew?"
"About the abduction? No."
"About Marcus becoming Lord Protector?"
"I should have anticipated it."
"Your mistakes are becoming expensive."
Beatrice accepted the words.
"I know."
She handed him a small key.
"What is this?"
"The cage key."
Adrian stared.
"You said you destroyed it."
"I lied."
"Why?"
"Because the cage isn't just a cage."
Beatrice explained.
The iron structure had been built by King Edmund over a hidden elevator platform.
Its lock mechanism controlled access to an underground railway tunnel.
The tunnel exited six miles north of the palace.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because Marcus didn't know I had the key."
Adrian looked toward Gabriel.
"Can it get us ahead of the convoy?"
Gabriel smiled.
"Now this family is finally becoming useful."
They entered the gallery.
The cage still stood where Evelyn had given birth.
Blood had been cleaned from the marble.
Adrian hated that.
Beatrice inserted the key into the lock.
A mechanical click sounded beneath the floor.
The entire cage descended.
Below was darkness.
A narrow rail cart waited.
Julian climbed in.
Gabriel followed.
Rowan.
Adrian.
Beatrice stepped toward the cart.
Adrian looked at her.
"You're staying."
"No."
"Mother."
"I built this disaster."
Her face hardened.
"I am going to help end it."
The tunnel carried them north.
Forty minutes later they emerged near an abandoned royal hunting station.
Gabriel climbed a radio tower.
"I see the convoy."
"How far?"
"Three miles."
Adrian loaded his pistol.
Julian stopped him.
"There's something you need to know before we reach St. Catherine's."
Adrian looked at him.
"What now?"
Julian's expression was grave.
"Helena may be there."
Evelyn's mother.
Alive.
Adrian stared.
"You said you didn't know where she was."
"I didn't."
"But?"
"Three days ago I received a photograph."
Julian handed it to him.
An elderly woman sat behind reinforced glass.
A crescent birthmark showed beneath her collar.
Helena.
Written across the photograph:
BRING THE CHILD HOME.
Adrian turned it over.
On the back was a second message.
May you like
NOT EVELYN'S CHILD.
YOURS.
