Marissa waited until he was gone, until the sound of his heavy, angry boots had faded into the darkness of the stairwell.
Then, she turned. Her work here was done.
She walked toward the main staircase. Her carriage was waiting. Derek was waiting.
She descended the stairs, her mind already moving to the next move. She had humiliated the Prince. She had neutralized Ashlyn. But she knew Liam would not stop. He would come back harder.
She reached the bottom floor. The main hall was empty now, the staff cleaning up the remnants of the day, sweeping the floor and arranging the chairs and tables.
She walked toward the main entrance.
Just as she reached the heavy double doors, a figure stepped out from the shadows of the cloakroom.
It was Princess Dahlia.
Marissa stopped abruptly. She was surprised. She thought the Princess had left with Lady Edwina.
