"My lady, I do not need your help."

"Are you quite sure about that? As a Llewellyn, I have access to the king and the queen that you will never have. You need me more than you realize, Sir Rhys." She glared at him. "In fact, perhaps you are the one who is superfluous here and should leave."

Before he could reply, Verity deliberately looked past him toward the queen's party and bobbed a curtsy. "I have to go in now. The queen is retiring. It was a pleasure to see you again, cousin, and I wish you Godspeed on your journey home."

She whisked past him and headed for the safety of the queen's ladies. Indignation filled her thoughts. How dared he presume that she was useless? He hadn't seen her for ten years and his immediate assumption was that because she was female she would only hinder his cause? Had he ever thought that about Rosalind? Somehow she doubted it. Verity wanted to smack his patronizing face but contented herself with walking away from him as if he had never existed.

Rhys remained rooted to the spot and watched Verity chatter to her companions as she walked into the palace. In the sunlight her hair held every color from white to brown gilded with gold like a ripening field of wheat. He wanted to go after her and demand she listen to him but he suspected her answer would have been the same.

He cursed under his breath and headed back to the stables, where he had left his horse and his bags. Unfortunately, some of what Verity had said was true. He did need her cooperation if he truly wanted to solve this mystery of what was wrong with the queen.

It never paid to underestimate a woman, especially a Llewellyn, but he feared he had already fallen into that trap. Christopher would have been amused, but Rhys should've known better. Now he would have to charm his way back into her good graces.

He threw a coin to the stable boy who had been watching his possessions and picked up his bags. Not that charming Verity Llewellyn would be a hardship. She was as beautiful as he had remembered-and he'd always enjoyed a challenge.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Kate Pearce was born into a large family of girls in England, and spent much of her childhood living very happily in a dreamworld. Despite being told that she really needed to "get with the program," she graduated from the University College of Wales with an honors degree in history. A move to the U.S. finally allowed her to fulfill her dreams and sit down and write that novel. Along with being a voracious reader, Kate loves trail riding with her family in the regional parks of Northern California. Kate is a member of RWA and is published by NAL, Kensington Aphrodisia, Ellora's Cave, Cleis Press, and Virgin Black Lace/Cheek.

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