Recklessly Yours Read Online Free Page A

queen and Lord Melbourne had plotted together to circumvent the will of the people. Others had accused Her Majesty of being a spoiled child, unfit to wear the crown.
    Holly believed neither of these allegations, but she understood that Victoria could ill afford another embarrassing incident. She came to her feet. “The majority of the people adore you. They understand you are young and these things—”
    Victoria silenced her with a vigorous shake of her head. “The opposition to the monarchy, and to my reign especially, grows daily. Not mere whispers, mind you, but rumbles capable of toppling a thousand years of English tradition.”
    The possibility rendered Holly’s throat dry. They had spoken of such rumblings before, when Victoria had first reestablished ties with the Sutherlands and asked Laurel to investigate her cousin. The crumbling of the monarchy seemed far-fetched—impossible—yet in recent times, more and more people rejected the notion of the divine right of kings. The French, for a time. The Americans . . .
    â€œHolly, these negotiations with Prussia provide me with a chance to regain the people’s confidence and admiration. If I can be seen as instrumental in forging a strengthened alliance . . .”
    â€œI understand. And do not worry.” She reached for her friend’s hands and gave them a squeeze. For at that moment, with her eyes opened wide and her brow furrowed tight, England’s queen appeared young and vulnerable and very much in need of a friend’s reassurance—however much that friend lacked certainty in her own ability to fulfill the promise she was about to make. “I will find your colt.”
    The tension drained from Victoria’s youthful features. “Thank you, my dear friend. I knew I could count on you.”
    Victoria threw her arms around Holly, and as they hugged, a realization prompted Holly to pull back from Victoria’s embrace. “There is one matter we haven’t considered. My disguise. Laurel used an alias during her mission, and Ivy disguised herself by wearing trousers and posing as a young man. But the Ashworths know me. How shall I—”
    The queen waved a dismissive hand. “That has become a moot point. Since your sisters’ marriages, you have been out in society. Everyone knows who you are. You’ll simply investigate Colin Ashworth as yourself.”
    â€œBut . . .” Holly could raise no valid argument, but if she had been doubtful about this mission so far, she was doubly so now. Laurel and Ivy had both attested to using their masquerades as shields; being someone else had armed them with confidence and a sense of invulnerability they would not have otherwise possessed.
    Holly would have no such advantage. Her name, her reputation, her very future, would be at risk.
    But she had long ago taken a vow, and she had no choice. When she nodded her acquiescence, Victoria pressed her hands together. “Now, you’ll need a cover story, and a chaperone, of course. . . .”
    Victoria’s enthusiasm burgeoned in direct proportion to Holly’s growing qualms. Once their plan had been laid out, she expressed one final misgiving, this time having nothing to do with herself, but with the man she was being sent, possibly, to apprehend, whose life she might very well destroy. “Do we in this country . . . still hang horse thieves?”
    Victoria raised a haughty eyebrow. “We do not. Unfortunately. For, although I am no great proponent of the death penalty, I should very much like to make an exception in this case, were I able.”
    Holly’s relief proved short-lived as Victoria added, “The culprit is perhaps even now sniggering behind his hand, believing he has got away with his perfidy. That, I tell you, is something the Queen of England shall not abide. Mark my words: he will pay, and pay dearly.”

Chapter 3
    â€œI tell you, Grey Momus will take the