Strangely, it was comforting. Addie had many times second-guessed her decision to vanish in the aftermath of the accident. Could she have prevented this man from becoming king? Perhaps. 
                          
But Theo's work was a good reminder of what had been at stake for her. Addie had been too weak for the battle of thrones that would have inevitably ensued if she had gone back to the palace after the accident. Ernest had too many supporters, and Addie was woefully inexperienced. At least this way, she was alive. And maybe one day she would find the strength and the way to become Princess Adelaide again.
                          
At the bottom of the page, there had been a note. Was a body discovered? it read in hastily written handwriting.
                          
She had wondered, initially, what Ernest would do upon discovering her missing body. Would he raise the alarm, or would he allow her to fade into the shadows, hushing those around him into secrecy? She had known that time would tell, but time was all she had needed anyway. And he had done exactly as she had expected, ignoring his niece's missing body. It only gave her further ammunition for believing Ernest was to blame.
                          
"Addie... " Theo began, drawing her attention.
                          
"Please," she quickly interrupted him. "Please, do not ask me more."
                          
Addie knew she was begging him now, asking too much of him, but she no longer had any other choices and found she no longer cared.
                          
Theo took her other hand in his. "Whatever it is, I can help you. Whatever it is you are hiding, you needn't hide it from me," he implored.
                          
Addie breathed a small sigh of relief that it did not appear he knew what she was keeping from him. Not exactly, anyway.
                          
Addie shook her head. "I cannot, Theo. You do not understand." Theo reached up and touched her face to wipe away tears that she did not realize were falling down from her eyes.
                          
"Help me understand," he whispered.
                          
She shook her head again. "I cannot," she repeated, unable to muster any more words through her tears.
                          
Addie was shocked as he gathered her into his arms, keeping her against his strong, hard body. Addie breathed in his embrace. For so long, how she had desired to be held like this. He brought her to the settee, carefully placing her down without letting go.
                          
"I can protect you. You know that, right?" Theo said with quiet conviction.
                          
Addie said nothing, but once again relief mixed with her sadness. There were many things that a duke could provide protection from, but King Ernest was not included in that. If Theo knew the truth, he would agree too. 
                          
If the rumors regarding George's marriage were true, it was possible Addie could not let herself stay hidden for long. But for now, she would relish in Theo's hold, his warmth. She would relish in simply being Addie. A maid and nothing more.
                          
They lay there for a long time in the dark library before Addie's tears had dried and the exhaustion of it sent her into a restless sleep. When she woke, a blanket had been pulled over her, but the warmth from Theo was gone. Once again, she was alone.
                          
****
                          
When Theo informed Addie that she would be accompanying him to visit Andrew the next morning, she merely stared at him blankly.
                          
He couldn't really blame her for her reaction. Confusion was now a part of his daily climate too, mostly because of her.
                          
But regardless, thanks to his drunken and impassioned lack of self-control, she was a part of this now. If Andrew found out what Theo had told her, he would insist on seeing her anyway. So Theo figured she might as well come along from the start. Even though he had no idea who she was or if he should trust her. He really shouldn't trust her.