Mr. Hugh stated, “There are numerous reasons I desire his presence before me.” He inclined slightly forward. “I possess an acute ability to detect deceit. I am aware that the prince does not behave in such a manner with just anyone. Numerous accounts regarding his treatment of women at the palace are widely known, even in the north. The narratives I encountered today concerning his treatment of you render your statements implausible.”
Molly stated, “You will be waiting an extended period.” “As I mentioned, you are squandering your time on me. He is likely already at the palace.”
Mr. Hugh chuckled and applauded once. “I understand why he is fond of you. There is a spark in your eyes that I did not anticipate.” He rose to his feet.
“Many do not.” Molly also stood. She observed that he lacked a weapon at his belt, yet an instinct suggested that he would not require one should she attempt to assault him. He was shorter than Jayce, yet significantly larger than her. “For how long will you detain me here until you acknowledge that he is not arriving?”
“Perhaps a month. I possess ample time to wait.” Mr. Hugh caressed her cheek with his finger, prompting her to lean back away from him. “Do not be concerned, dear. I do not have romantic inclinations towards women. I have no intention of causing you harm, as I previously stated.”
“Is the bounty on his head sufficiently substantial for you to detain me here involuntarily?”
Mr. Hugh appeared somewhat astonished by her remarks. He swiftly dismissed the expression and smiled once more. “He is a prince with an unprecedented bounty on his head.”
“If you do not intend to harm me, why can you not simply release me?” Molly implored once more before he approached the door and secured it, confining her with her futile thoughts.
“I may have stated that I have no intentions of causing you harm, but that does not imply I would refrain from doing so if it would inflict pain upon him.” Molly stood atop the dresser once more, attempting to gaze through the small window, though she was slightly too short. It appeared that the external frost had rendered it irreparably sealed. She continued to push against the window despite recognising the futility of her hips fitting through. Mr. Hugh was correct; it was indeed sufficiently large for a rabbit to pass through and nothing beyond that. Nevertheless, she longed to open it merely to experience a breath of fresh air and the sensation of cold snow against her face. She never anticipated missing the sensation, yet it was preferable to being confined in a room involuntarily.
A knock at the door prompted Molly to hastily descend from the dresser and promptly regain her composure before the door opened. She adjusted her attire as the guard entered; Joseph regarded her with raised eyebrows. “Are you well?”
Molly endeavoured to regulate her respiration. “Certainly.”
In the absence of any further explanation, he advanced deeper into the room. “It appears your assumption was incorrect.”
“What do you mean?” Molly knitted her brows.
“It appears that an individual from the prince’s entourage is already present to negotiate your release. I am here to escort you; Mr. Hugh requires your presence in the room. They evidently wish to ascertain that you have not been subjected to t*****e.”
“What? That is inconceivable. I witnessed their departure prior to the assault on Colton. He—they vowed they would not return.”
“They must have returned for you.” Joseph widened the door slightly and extended a pair of wrist cuffs with a melancholic smile. “Apologies for this. Mr. Hugh is certain you will flee the moment you exit.”
Molly exhaled in exasperation and extended her wrists for him to restrain with handcuffs. Mr. Hugh was unequivocally correct. Although she may have been unfamiliar with this aspect of Life Pharmacy, she would have exerted every effort to escape his hold and seek an exit if given the opportunity.
Joseph failed to secure the metal after fastening it. His hands hesitated briefly before he relinquished her and permitted her to proceed ahead of him down the corridors. He instructed her on which corridor to navigate until she ultimately arrived at a pair of expansive doors that extended to the ceiling. She could discern distant voices engaged in a profound conversation beyond the woods. Did Jayce or Colton dispatch someone to retrieve her?
Joseph raised his arm around her and knocked on the door forcefully enough to silence them. Moments later, the doors opened, revealing Beckham on the opposite side. If Jayce’s beta was present, it indicated that Jayce had indeed returned for her.
She disregarded the flutter in her chest as she advanced further. Mr. Hugh was positioned by the fireplace adjacent to Beckham. She endeavoured to refrain from contemplating Jayce and the explicit indication of his indifference towards her during their last conversation. Nonetheless. His return for her must signify something, even if she wished it did not.
“As you can observe, she is alive and in good health,” Mr. Hugh remarked, taking a prolonged sip of his beverage. “We can now deliberate on our agreement.”
Beckham scrutinised her from head to toe, as if to ascertain the absence of any new blemishes. She exhibited minor bruising on her cheek; however, she was otherwise unscathed. His gaze remained fixed on her wrist and the proximity of the guards, leading her to speculate whether their hands rested on their swords behind her back.
“Prince Jayce was prepared to declare war had you harmed her.”
“Colton is aware that harming an innocent girl contradicts my core beliefs. This is one principle on which we have consistently concurred,” Mr. Hugh stated languidly. He summoned a servant, who proceeded to pour him a fresh glass. It evoked memories of the treatment afforded to royalty at the palace. Colton was not subjected to such treatment, although she contemplated whether it was his decision. She recalled Sir Harrison possessing servants in his residence, from which he never departed.
“What precisely do you desire from Prince Jayce? He could readily enter here himself-”
“Should he desire an immediate army of adversaries, it would be exceedingly imprudent for him to challenge me and to underestimate the capabilities of genuine rogues. While Colton may have become complacent, we do not permit royalty to presume they can dominate us, nor do we extend hospitality to our foes.”
Beckham tightened his jaw and interlaced his fingers behind his back. “May I enquire again? What do you seek from Prince Jayce in exchange for his lady?”
Molly shifted, and Beckham’s gaze immediately focused on her, as if he recognised he had spoken inappropriately.
“She informed me that she was not his partner,” Mr. Hugh remarked, amused as he glanced between them.
“She is not officially.” Beckham cleared his throat. Molly felt an urge to strike him for making such a ludicrous statement! She had devoted her entire morning to persuading everyone that she held no significance for him, and now Beckham effectively validated her deceit. Moreover, his remarks were noteworthy-
