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“There is no direct threat to any hness,” Lancaster said “That is the diabolic brilliance of these plots that are unfolding Whoever is perpetrating theo after an actual h-profile politician, a famous musician or movie star These people are too well protected

“What caments of a list It had a dozen names on it of very prominent people, in a code, which they broke At first they could et’s name in code—for example, Henry Hampton—” he nahted by the British queen “—and then a na beside that name, not in code, that no one had ever heard of

“But good police work unveiled this—those unheard of people have strong ties to the rich and famous They are childhood friends, or a favorite aunt or uncle, trusted confidants, sometimes secret lovers, people who are close but well outside the circle of protection”

“Who?” Edward asked

“It was Princess Madeline’s name that was decoded”

Edward blanched “Who have they targeted in her circle?”

Frowning, Lancaster handed him a folded piece of paper

Edward unfolded it, and saw it had written on it a single name

Sophie Kettle

“Sophie,” Edward said, softly “Maddie’s best friend Godmother to Ryan” His eyes went to Lancaster and the rest of what Sophie was in their shared history remained unspoken between the two men

Lancaster cleared his throat “She’s very much on the loose around the world since she does PR for that rock band, the Ritz Sophie Kettle would et”

“She was fired last week”

So flickered in Lancaster, unco he claimed never to feel? Fear? “Which probably et”

“I can’t tell Maddie this She’s just been so unwell I can’t add an additional stress right now”

The prince’s great love for his wife—and how appalled he was at the idea of keeping a secret from her—was evident in his face Lancaster quickly quelled the sharp awareness of his own solitary existence that the prince’s devotion to Maddie created in him