The Beach Hut on Plum Island

7. CHAPTER 7

Harriet awoke early the following morning to her screaming alarm clock. Groaning, she pulled a pillow over her head, wondering if she should skip her morning run. Then, she could get another hour’s sleep before meeting Finn and her parents at the Beach Hut.

The moment she thought of Finn, her eyes flew open, and the pillow was dumped on the bed beside her. Harriet’s hand hit her phone and slid the alarm off. Her heart jolted, and she sat up as the fluttering things in her stomach came alive.

“Looks like I’m going for a run after all.” Harriet yawned and climbed out of bed.

A few minutes later, she’d brushed her teeth, pulled on a running outfit, and was walking toward the beach, pulling her hair into a ponytail, when a smile split her face.

“Hey, princess,” Finn called, waving at her as she jogged toward her. “I thought I’d join you for an early morning run.”

“Hey, there,” Harriet greeted back, trying to catch her breath, and she hadn’t even started running. “Aren’t you usually in the waves by now?”

Harriet walked toward Finn. He glanced at the sea. “Nah, the waves aren’t that good this morning.” He smiled at her. “Besides, I do need to work on my cardio.”

“Okay, then,” Harriet said. “I don’t mind company on my runs.” Especially if the company’s Finn Shaw, her subconscious finished for her. “I hope you can keep up because I run. I don’t jog.”

“I will try,” Finn told her. “Just how far do you run in the mornings?”

“It depends what mood I’m in,” Harriet told him. “Some mornings, I run as far as Alex’s house.”

“That’s almost five miles,” Finn calculated with a pained look on his face.

“If that’s too much for you…” Harriet’s voice faded off but was loaded with a challenge. “It’s okay if you no longer want to run with me.”

“Nope, I’m good to go,” Finn assured her.

“Okay.” Harriet set her watch, stretched, and looked at Finn. “Ready?”

“Whenever you are.” Finn indicated that she should lead the way.

As they ran they discussed the events of the previous evening. “Did you manage to get some sleep?” Finn asked Harriet.

“I should be asking you that.” Harriet looked at him curiously. “You’re the one that went with Harley and Alex to the police station.”

“Oh, that didn’t take too long,” Finn told her. “We gave our statements and left.” He corrected himself. “Well, Alex and I left. Harley stayed behind to make sure the police got the correct story.”

“I’m so sorry about what Leon did,” Harriet said. “I bet you’re wishing you’d never said you’d help me now?”

“Nope.” Finn shook his head and smiled at her. “If anything, I’m really glad that I did.”

His eyes darkened, and the look in them did crazy things to Harriet’s system, including almost making her lose her breath. Something that she didn’t need when setting off for a run and then she nearly choked.

“Are you okay?” Finn stopped and looked at her worriedly.

“I think I may have swallowed a bug,” Harriet lied. Really, Harriet? Swallowed a bug? She gave herself a mental shake and then said something so stupid again. “That’s what I get for running with my mouth open.” Seriously? “Well, more open than usual.” Agh. Just shut up! “Or, well, talking.”

“Sorry, that’s my fault, conversing while we run,” Finn apologized.

“No, I enjoy talking with my mouth open,” Harriet fumbled over her words. “I mean running with my mouth open…” Mayday, Mayday, I’m going down in a blaze of bumble here. “Sorry, I’m so tired I’m tripping over my tongue.” Well, that’s being sort of truthful.

“I can totally understand that,” Finn said as they started running again. “I didn’t get a lot of sleep either. But I woke up, and it was such a beautiful morning, I thought I’d come to enjoy some fresh air with you.”

“And make sure that my crazy ex-fiancé didn’t try to kidnap me,” Harriet guessed and shook her head as she still couldn’t believe Leon had tried to kidnap Finn. What on earth was going on? “I have no idea what’s going on lately with some people I’m acquainted with,” she admitted to Finn. “I think maybe there’s something in the water on Joyce Isles and wherever it is that Leon and Estelle live now that’s making them all a little loopy.”

“I’ve got my bets on it all coming down to money and power,” Finn stated. “At the end of the day, when people start acting like Leon, it usually has something to do with that.”

“I can’t argue with that logic,” Harriet said as they set a steady pace along Cobble Beach. “But that doesn’t explain why my uncle has taken up his quest to get me married to Leon.” She frowned. “As far as I know, there are no problems with our family’s finances.”

“Power?” Finn suggested. “Or finally owning the property your family has coveted?”

“No.” Harriet shook her head. “After last night, I’m even more convinced something else is going on.” She glanced at Finn, and an idea took root. “Do you like mystery movies or whodunnit type shows?”

“Love them,” Finn admitted, one eyebrow raised as he looked at her curiously. “Why do you ask?”

“Want to solve a mystery with me?” Harriet asked.

“Ah!” Finn nodded. “Does it involve stealing cars and boats?”

“I said I’m sorry about that and apologized.” Harriet sighed. “Please tell me you’re not going to pull a Jennifer on me, and never let me forget that I shot you…” She shook her head. “Sorry, her. I shot her… Jennifer.”

“I don’t think you should say that around Jennifer,” Finn teased. “Especially now she knows you’re a princess, as it could cause some sort of international incident.” He laughed at the look on Harriet’s face. “I’m joking.” He held up his hands. “But to answer your original question. I’ll probably tease you about it a lot, so I can’t promise not to.”

“What is it with you Plum Island locals, not being able to let go of things?” Harriet hissed playfully, enjoying the easy flow of conversation when she wasn’t stumbling over her tongue around Finn.

“I guess as we don’t have much action here in our sleepy little town when we do, we don’t want to let go of it.” Finn grinned. “Especially when we find out a real-life princess wronged us.”

“Great!” Harriet sighed. “So, while we’re talking about wronging people.” She pulled a face. “I owe you another apology.”

“Really?” Finn gave her a curious look. “Are you going to tell me that’s not my real truck that I got back? The real one you totaled and sent to the truck farm?”

“Cute!” Harriet laughed. “And close.”

“Ah…” Finn said, nodding before shocking her by saying, “Does this have to do with a gangly teen who stole the surf lifesaver’s quad bike that broke my prized surfboard in half when she took off on it?”

Harry’s eyes were huge as she turned to stare at him. He remembered? “You remember that?”

“Not until Caroline told me who you were,” Finn admitted. “Although you did look familiar to me when we met here on Plum Island a year ago.” Something flashed in his eyes that she couldn’t make out. “That’s when I remembered your green eyes that flashed with anger at me that day.”

“To be fair,” Harriet said. “I did ask you nicely to get your board out of the way before the lifesavers descended on us. They blocked my way, so the only other route was over your board.”

“Why did you steal that quad bike if your grandfather was the King of Joyce Isles?” Finn asked.

“Because while you, Riptide, and all the other surf pro heroes were on the island for the surfing contest, that’s all that mattered,” Harriet told him. “I tried to get their attention to let them know an animal was in distress and needed help, but I was ignored and told to go enjoy the day with my friends.”

“An animal was in distress?” Finn looked at her questioningly.

“Yes, a young narwhal had beached itself further down the beach near the Ferdi River mouth,” Harriet let her mind go back to that day. “I needed the quad bike to pull the lifesaving dinghy with the motor to where the whale was.”

“You stole the surf life-saving dinghy as well?” Finn choked, amazed.

“I did.” Harriet nodded. “I needed it to pull the young whale back into the water, as I couldn’t push it.”

“Wait!” Finn started jogging backward as he looked at her. “How big is a young narwhal?”

“It was only about five feet,” Harriet told him. “But they are a big heavy five-foot, and it flapped about a bit. But you know, when I got close to it and managed to touch it. It was like it knew I didn’t mean it harm, and I wanted to help it.”

“Wow!” Finn said, gazing at her with hooded eyes.

“What?” Harriet said, starting to feel a little self-conscious under his scrutiny.

He stopped and turned to run beside her again. “Every time I think you can’t surprise or amaze me more than you have, you save a baby whale.” He gave a soft laugh. “If I’d have known what you were doing, I would’ve helped you know.”

“No one else seemed to want to help me that day,” Harriet told him.

“What happened to the whale?” Finn asked.

“One of the lifesavers and one of my bodyguards managed to catch up with me at the river mouth,” Harriet told him. “They helped me get the whale back into the water.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Finn said. “I hope you didn’t get into too much trouble for your rescue mission.”

“Oh, it wasn’t more than I was used to.” Harriet snorted. “I’m afraid I’m known as the Rebel Princess of Joyce in the royal circles.”

“That’s you?” Finn laughed. “You’re the young princess that climbed on a racehorse and rode away with it because you saw the jockey beating it with a crop?”

“To be clear,” Harriet told him as they hit the turning point and took a breather to shake out their legs, “it was my horse, and I warned that jockey my uncle hired not to use a crop on Thunder, but he didn’t listen. So Thunder bit him and then tried to step around the man, but the jockey slipped while lashing out even more at Thunder. The man fell beneath Thunder’s hooves.”

“That’s the press for you,” Finn stated as they started their way back toward the Beach Hut. “Although the headlines were very catchy: The Rebel Princess Rebels on a Blaze of Thunder.”

“Yeah.” Harriet sighed, shaking her head. “I made the headlines quite a lot all around the world when I was growing up.”

“What gets me,” Finn told her, “is that the press would rather sensationalize something like you stealing a horse than tell the truth about it, just to sell the news.”

“They did the same thing to you, didn’t they?” Harriet knew the moment she’d touched on the topic of how Finn’s career had ended. She’d open a door he wasn’t ready to open.

“Something like that,” Finn stated abruptly and changed the subject. “Do you think your parents are going to like the house?”

Harriet glanced at him and saw Finn had looked out over the ocean, but not before she’d seen the pain in his eyes. She knew that pain, and even though their situations were different, the pain of betrayal and twisted truth resonated with the same frequency for those who had lived through it. While Harriet had always been curious to hear Finn’s side of the story, she also respected his right not to talk about it. Another thing they had in common was keeping their pain from everyone around them.

“Are you kidding me?” Harriet let it go and switched gears, letting Finn guide the conversation. “My mother will probably want to buy it.”

“Funny you should say that,” Finn told her. “Near the end of last year, I thought about selling the house as, unlike Liam, I’m not really into the holiday trade.”

“I think you’ve done a marvelous job of your holiday home,” Harriet complimented him. “But I understand your reasoning.” Her eyes widened as another thought struck her. “But if you wanted to sell it for real, please give me the first option.”

“Oh?” Finn looked at her curiously. “Do you want to buy a holiday home on Plum Island?”

“No.” Harriet shook her head. “I have my apartment in New York up for sale because I want to make Plum Island my new home.” She smiled at the surprised look on Finn’s face. “Especially now that Jennifer and I have a new business together.”

“Let’s talk at the end of summer,” Finn told her. “One of the things that stopped me from selling was not knowing who mine and Liam’s neighbor would be.” He smiled. “But neither of us would mind if it were you.”

“Let’s put a pin in that.” Harriet laughed. “You only just offered to help me and already nearly got kidnapped.”

“Heck, you’re right,” Finn teased. “And then there’s all the crimes you’d already stacked up against me.”

“Yup!” Harriet rolled her eyes. “Plum Island locals are like bull terriers. Once their jaw locks onto something, it’s never going to be taken away from them.”

Their run came to an end all too soon as Harriet had enjoyed their run together. She had barely come up for breath when they reached the Beach Hut, and her family was waiting for them with Finn’s kids.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Julie breathed a sigh of relief. “I was starting to get worried that…” her eyes slid toward Maggie and Tucker. “Would you two be dears and get us our table?”

“Sure,” Tucker said, grinning at Harriet. “Hey, Harriet.” He surprised her by hugging her. “I see you finally got my dad to run with you.”

Harriet swallowed the tears as she realized Tucker and Maggie were playing their part for her.

“I’ve been telling him for weeks he needs to keep his heart healthy by going for a run.” Maggie hugged Harriet as well and whispered, “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”

Harriet felt her heart swell as she hugged the little girl and kissed her head. “Thank you, sweetheart,” she whispered back.

“Come on, Mags,” Tucker took his sister’s hand. “Let’s go get a big table.”

As they disappeared into the cafe, Julie and Pat, after greeting Harriet and Finn, turned worried eyes on Finn and Harriet.

“Goodness, Finn, I’m so sorry about that Leon and what he did to you,” Pat said before Julie could get another word in. “Gray told us what happened this morning.”

“We didn’t even know that Leon and his cousin were here already,” Julie stated. “Now I believe his mother, Gloria, is heading to America to bail her son out of trouble once again.”

“It was the best thing you and your brother could’ve done hiring that PI to find out about Leon,” Pat said. “I never wanted you to marry that man, sweetheart.”

“It’s okay, Father,” Harriet told him, not wanting to bring up the past.

“Finn, are you okay?” Julie asked him, concern shining in her eyes. “I hope this incident doesn’t reflect on Harriet in any way.”

“I’m fine, really,” Finn assured Julie with a warm smile. “Why would it reflect on Harriet? Leon’s actions are not her fault.”

Harriet and Finn’s eyes met, and the memory of their kiss hit her in the heart, making her breath catch in her throat —Uh oh, she thought. This is bad!

“Shall be breakfast inside?” Harriet’s tongue once again decided not to take direction from her brain and to try things on their own. “I mean, shall we eat breakfast?”

“I think what Harriet’s trying to say is—“ Finn put an arm around Harriet. “Shall we go inside and have breakfast? We’re both exhausted from a long night, long run, and the sea air.”

“Thank you,” Harriet whispered. “It seems my tongue and my brain aren’t connecting today.”

“You know I sometimes have that problem with my brain and my feet,” Finn whispered back, a glint in his eyes. “Especially when I try to dance or ice skate.”

“You’re a surfer who can’t ice skate?” Harriet looked at him in surprise.

“Want to know an even more shocking secret?” Finn said as they walked into the Beach Hut arm in arm. “I can’t roller skate either.”

“No!” Harriet feigned shock. “That’s okay. I can’t do that either.” She laughed.

“I think we’ve done good,” Dawn turned toward Jennifer, Carly, Daniella, and Caroline.

“I think so too,” Caroline stated as they watched Finn and Harriet follow her parents into the Beach Hut from their bird’s eye view on Dawn’s hotel suite balcony.

“I wonder when they’ll realize that while we started off wanting to help Harriet, we landed on the plot to play matchmakers,” Jennifer added and sipped her smoothie.

“Somewhere between us either being elated that our plan worked or not,” Daniella said.

“Or when we’re all running away screaming as Harriet chases us, enraged that we meddled in her business.” Carly laughed.

“We’ll buy the plane tickets to get out of Dodge when or if that day comes,” Jennifer told her with a grin and looked at each of the women gathered there. “Let’s just remember to keep on top of this and make sure we keep each other updated on their progress.”

“What did we miss?” They were joined by Alex, Ethan, Harley, Brad, Liam, and Gray.

Dawn brought them up to speed, and all eyes turned to Gray as Jennifer asked, “Shouldn’t you be having breakfast with your parents and our targets?”

“We’re not assassinating them, sweetheart,” Harley said, kissing Jennifer’s cheek. “But I’m so proud of how you’re running operations. Save Harriet and matchmake her with Finn.”

“That’s a terrible name for the operation,” Daniella rolled her eyes.

“Harley was never good at naming things.” Carly laughed, linking her arm through Ethan’s. “Do you remember that big black cat? He called it Cat.”

“I was ten,” Harley defended his naming prowess.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it,” Gray stated. “I called my pet mouse rat.”

“Why are you still here?” Dawn’s eyes narrowed to slits as she looked at Gray. “You’re supposed to be spying for us at the Beach Hut.”

“Oops!” Gray stood to attention and saluted Dawn. “I’m on it. I just thought that it would look less suspicious if I rocked up late. After all, I did pop up from nowhere to spy on them last night as well.”

“Good thinking,” Alex agreed with Gray. “And you’re never on time for anything, so that would’ve looked a little suspicious.”

Dawn tapped her wristwatch. “Well, now you’re a good fifteen minutes late. It will be twenty by the time you get there.”

“I’m gone!” Gray rolled his eyes and left.

“Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like a terrible busybody?” Ethan asked.

“Nope, it’s just you,” Dawn assured him.

“Yes, brother, you were always the stick in the mud, goody two shoes,” Alex reminded him.

“We’re interfering in two people’s lives here,” Ethan pointed out. “Not only are there ethical issues, there are moral ones too.”

“Seriously, none of us will think badly of you if you want to dump my stick in the mud brother.” Alex laughed at the black look Ethan shot him.

“I love you for how honest and moral you are, Ethan,” Carly kissed his cheek. “But don’t think of what we’re doing like that. First off, we’re helping Harriet escape the manipulative bonds her title and family obligations force on her.”

“And bringing two people together who deserve some love and happiness in their lives,” Jennifer helped Carly out.

“Two people who are too stubborn to ask for help and too set in their ways to reach for love even when it’s right in front of them,” Daniella told Ethan.

“And no two people deserve to be happier than a man who volunteers wherever he can. He is the most amazing single father and loyal friend that I know.” Harley took over the conversation and glanced at Alex.

“Or a woman with a heart bigger than the world who gives and gives, never thinking to take anything in return,” Alex finished in return.

They all raised their glasses and said in unison, “To Finn and Harriet.”

Harriet was surprised at how smoothly the breakfast went with her parents. Finn and his children charmed Harriet’s parents and even her brother was taken with them.

“Thank you for the breakfast, Finn,” Pat said as they walked out of the Beach Hut. “I must say, you have a delightful establishment here.”

“Thank you,” Finn said. “If you just give me a few minutes to see my kids off to Carly’s house, I’ll be back to take you to the holiday house.”

“Of course,” Julie said.

Maggie and Tucker said goodbye to Julie, Pat, and Gray before Carly and Reef appeared to collect them.

“Harriet, you’ve found yourself a fine man, indeed,” Pat praised. “I couldn’t be happier for you.”

Guilt and another emotion Harriet wasn’t yet ready to face flooded her, making her throat go dry, and she stared at her parents.

“Don’t cave now, little sister,” Gray whispered to her. “Stay strong.”

“Thank you,” Harriet managed to get out with a forced smile. “It means a lot to me. Finn is a good man.”

“I know he is sweetheart,” Pat said. “Because when I look at him, I see he has the same big heart as you do.”

“I couldn’t agree more with your father,” Julie’s eyes were suspiciously bright. “I really wish you’d just renounce your title, honey.”

“I know, Mother,” Harriet said, looking at her mother. “But like Gray said, it’s not just me I’d be renouncing if I did that.” She blew out a breath. “While I’m mostly American, I’m also mostly a part of Joyce Isles. I know sometimes it can be a great burden to bear this title, and trust me, at times it feels like nothing but that to me.” She looked from her mother to her father. “But it’s also a privilege to have been born with it. Renouncing my title is like me turning my back on the people who gave our family this privilege way back when.” She swallowed. “People who put a lot of trust in their royal family, and by turning my back on my title, I’d be turning my back on them too, and that doesn’t seem right to me.”

“And that’s why grandfather always wanted you to be queen,” Gray stated, his voice hoarse with emotion and tears sparkling in his hazel eyes. “Because of how you just always find a way to tackle obstacles head-on. Even if they knock you out, you just get right back up and carry on through.”

“Okay, now that’s out of the way,” Finn’s voice had them all turning toward him, “are you ready to look at the house?”

“Yes,” Harriet answered for them, eager to get out of the heavy conversation she was having with her family that left a massive pit in her soul and a guilty acid burning in her stomach.

An hour later, Harriet was back in her suite, exhausted from the night before and the strain of keeping up the charade of being engaged. Lying was exhausting. She’d just finished her shower and dried her hair. Harriet had no appointments or administrative tasks to do for her and Jennifer’s business, so she decided to get a few hours of sleep, especially as her head started to pound.

“That’s what I get for lying,” Harriet muttered to herself. “Your brain wants to explode from trying to keep all your lies together.”

She tied her hair back and was going to make some tea when Harriet realized she didn’t have the ring on. She knew she didn’t need to wear it when no one was around, but secretly, Harriet loved how it looked and felt on her finger. While her engagement may have been fake, the ring seemed to fit as if it had always been meant for her.

“Shake it off, Harriet,” Harriet warned herself. “It’s crucial I remember this is just a charade until after Alex and Daniella’s wedding celebration.”

Her eyes scanned the dresser where she’d left, but there was no sign of the ring. Panic gripped Harriet as she frantically searched around the dresser, hoping the ring had simply rolled away or was hidden under something else. But the surface was bare except for her usual array of cosmetics and jewelry, none of which was the missing ring.

A sense of unease settled over her as she rushed through her suite, checking the bathroom countertop, the nightstands, even the small crevices of the sofa cushions that stood in her bedroom—anywhere it could have possibly ended up. Her heart pounded with each empty search, the ring nowhere to be found.

As she moved into the living room, her pace quickened into nearly a run, her eyes sweeping over every inch of the space in desperate hope. That’s when she halted abruptly at the threshold, her breath catching in her throat.

Estelle lounged casually on her sofa, the missing ring conspicuously gleaming on her finger. The sight was so jarring, so audaciously invasive, that Harriet felt the room spin slightly as a cocktail of anger and shock flooded her system.

“Estelle,” Harriet managed to choke out, her voice tight with restrained fury. “What are you doing in my suite?”

Estelle looked up, her expression one of feigned surprise that didn’t reach the smugness in her eyes. “Oh, Harriet, darling,” she cooed, waving her hand so the ring caught the light with a malicious sparkle. “You, of all people, should know by now that I can get anywhere I please.” She wiggled her fingers, admiring the ring. “I wanted to try on this charming antique ring.” She looked at Harriet, goading her. “It suits me, don’t you think?”

The casual disdain in Estelle’s tone was like a spark fueling Harriet’s growing anger.

“That ring does not belong to you,” Harriet said through gritted teeth, wondering if what they said about dissolving bodies in a bath of acid was true. “Take it off. Now. Or this time, it won’t be just your nose I break.”

“Always resorting to threats of violence, Harriet.” Estelle tutted. “I have no idea what my brother sees in you.”

“Cousin!” Harriet corrected her. “Leon is your cousin, not your brother. You love telling the world in order to make yourself feel like a duchess.”

“You know that Leo is like a brother to me,” Estelle said, raising her chin haughtily.

“Shouldn’t you be trying to bail Leon out of jail?“ Harriet enquired, looking around the room for something to knock Estelle out with if the woman didn’t give the ring back. I can knock her on the head and then call hotel security to say she broke in. “He did try and kidnap Finn last night, or are you going to pretend you weren’t in on that plan?”

She took a few steps closer to the sofa.

“I warned Leo,“ Estelle told Harriet, “not to interfere and to wait for Titus, but no, he thought he’d kidnap Finn and then scare him into breaking things off with you.”

“Seriously?” Harriet gaped at Estelle and the absurd reason for Leon trying to kidnap Finn. “Leon was going to try and scare Finn off?” She snorted. “If you expect me to believe that, then you’ve probably forgotten that I’m not as dumb as you and your cousin.”

“Whatever!” Estelle fobbed off the conversation and steered it back to the ring. “You know, a few years ago, I wanted nothing more than to have Finn Shaw’s ring on my finger.”

“Was that before or after the restraining order he took out on you to leave him and his family alone?” Harriet knew she shouldn’t rile the hyper-sensitive woman while she still had Finn’s ring. But Estelle had a way of grating on Harriet’s nerves that just brought the worst out in her.

“That was just a little misunderstanding,” Estelle assured Harriet. “I was trying to help Finn as his wife was cheating on him with a man who was trying to steal his company.”

“And you wanted to be right there to ensure he had your shoulder to lean on when he found out,” Harriet guessed.

”I was there when he found out,“ Estelle told Harriet. “And trust me, even without the restraining order, I wouldn’t have wanted to go near Finn after that.” She glanced at the ring on her finger. “Or at least not until he’d calmed down.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Harriet felt a cold shiver slide down her spine.

“Just that I know quite a few dirty not so little secrets about Finn Shaw that I’m sure now that his clean poster boy image has been restored, wouldn’t want to get out into the world.” Estelle gave Harriet a smug smile. “I also know your secrets, Harriet.” She drew a breath in and fiddled with the ring on her finger, starting to slide it off. “So here’s the deal…”

“I don’t make deals,” Harriet told her. “Especially not with the likes of you.”

Estelle slid the ring off her finger and stood holding it between her fingers. “I think you’re going to want to take this one.” She bent and put the ring on the coffee table, picked up her purse, and looped it over her forearm as she faced Harriet. “I have a whole lot of information at my fingertips that I’m itching to release to the press about Finn and you.”

“Well then, why haven’t you?” Harriet shrugged. “I don’t care what you release to the press about me. My secret’s about to be shouted out to America anyway now that my uncle is arriving.” She tilted her head. “So you have nothing to sell to me that I want to buy. So please leave.”

“While you might think you have nothing to hide, Harriet, Finn does.” Estelle’s smug smile spread across her lips, which were coated with a very lovely shade of red. “And thanks to your brother, I know just who to release everything I have about him to.”

Harriet sighed, walked over to the coffee table, and retrieved the ring, slipping it back onto her finger. “Estelle, Finn and I don’t have secrets, and I doubt there’s nothing you can do to him that the press hasn’t already done or dug up.” She walked to her door and pulled it open. “Now, please leave. And if you have a shred of dignity, you’ll leave Plum Island with your cousin when the FBI haul him off to federal prison for attempting to kidnap the fiancé of a princess.”

“Then Leon gets what he deserves.” Estelle shrugged coldly. “I warned him to do things my way, but he didn’t listen.” She walked toward Harriet. “See what happens to people who don’t listen to me?” she warned as she stepped past Harriet and stood in the doorway. “Unless you want the same to happen to Finn, I think you should take my deal, which I’m still willing to offer you.”

“And what deal is that?” Harriet asked as warning bells started ringing in her ears. Did Estelle just threaten to have Finn put in prison? “You want me to break off my engagement with Finn and marry your cousin?”

“Oh, heavens no!” Estelle shuddered. “Harriet, while you and I have never gotten along…” Her words trailed off, and she raised her chin. “Or really liked each other, I wouldn’t do that to you. In fact, the only reason I came with Leo on this trip was to stop you from marrying him.“ Her mouth lifted in a half smile. “You being engaged to Finn was the best news I’d gotten since Gray announced his intentions to ask Trinity to marry him. I was free from that fiasco.”

The warning bells got louder, escalating into alarm bells in Harriet’s head. What is she up to? “What do you mean?”

“Oh, Harriet, you really don’t keep up with the times in our circles, do you?” Estelle raised a perfectly groomed eyebrow. “Leon’s mother is about to cut him off, just like she’s done to his father. Gloria Gladstone is about to divorce her husband and strip him and their son of their titles.”

“What?” Harriet spluttered and gaped at Estelle.

“That’s why Gloria is on her way here,” Estelle informed Harriet. “And as you know, Gloria has been like a mother to me. In fact, I call her mother, and if everything goes according to plan, I’ll be Duchess Gladstone.”

Harriet knew she was sounding like a stuck record as she repeated, “What?”

“Didn’t you know?” Estelle’s eyes flashed with a dark emotion. “Gloria officially adopted me when I was twelve. I was also written into her father’s and her will. Who do you think has been helping Gloria hang onto everything we own while Leon and Leon Senior tried to squander it all away?“ Her voice was laced with bitter resentment.

“You?” Harriet had to give herself a mental shake in order to make sure she was awake.

“Yes! Me!” Estelle pointed at her chest. “This was Leon’s last chance. Marry you, settle down, and prove he could be responsible.”

“You set Leon up!” Harriet realized as it suddenly hit her. During all the commotion the previous evening, she hadn’t even questioned where Alex and Harley had appeared from so fast.

“Oh no!” Estelle gave a nasty laugh. “My cousin pretty much creates his own problems. I just ensured… well… that he didn’t go through with his nefarious plan to hurt Finn.”

“How…” Harriet still couldn’t piece together how Estelle had gotten Alex and Harley to the hotel so quickly.

“Your friends were already here,” Estelle explained. “They’d been in the lounge bar area, and as soon as Finn left, I rushed into the bar all wide-eyed, going to Alex and telling him that I saw someone trying to attack Finn in the parking lot.”

“I’m surprised Alex believed you,” Harriet said. “He can’t stand you about as much as I can’t.”

“He told his friend to keep an eye on me while he went to check it out,” Estelle told Harriet. “When I was questioned, I told the cops I didn’t know what Leon was up to and… well… he’s in jail and I’m not.”

Harriet looked at Estelle and had to admit she was impressed at just how cunning Estelle really was and that Harriet may have underestimated the woman’s intelligence.

“You’re getting Leon’s title, and he’s not!” Harriet added. “So if you’re getting what you want…” She frowned. “And you don’t want me to end things with Finn… What is it you want that you’d be willing to hurt Finn over?”

“The title of queen!” Estelle told Harriet, who choked. “My goodness, Harriet, are you okay?”

Harriet cleared her throat and nearly choked again, trying not to laugh. “You want to be queen? And what? Marry my uncle?”

“Oh no!” Estelle shook her head and shuddered. “Oh, gross.”

Harriet’s eyes widened. “Gray?” Her mouth fell wide open at that. “Are you out of your mind? He’s already rejected you—publically, and I believe he is about to ask Trinity to marry him on live television.”

“That’s why you’re going to help me set your uncle and Gloria up,” Estelle told Harriet with a smug smile. “Then you’re going to advocate for Gloria to get the title of Queen and make sure that Titus covers the last of our debt so I get to keep Gladstone Olives, which I can finally run as it’s supposed to run. Like the real Duke Gladstone once ran it.”

Estelle said those last bits with such passion that it surprised Harriet once again as she realized that there was much, much more to Estelle than met the eye. The woman was willing to blackmail a princess in order to keep her family home. Harriet could almost admire her for it, but it was blackmail. Estelle was still crazy, and she’d broken into Harriet’s private domain and rifled through her private things.

“You know there are some things Joyce Isles has in common with the US, including the fact that we don’t deal with terrorists or give in to blackmailers.” Harriet straightened. It was time to put this woman in her place. Even if she was really trying to save her family home, she was going about it in a really messed up way. “Whatever you have or think you have on Finn, I’m sure, is nowhere near as bad as you trying to blackmail a member of a royal family.”

“I’m not blackmailing you, Harriet,” Estelle said through gritted teeth. “I’m making a deal with you. You help me get Gloria set up for life, and I’ll delete and forget everything I know about Finn that the press or world doesn’t know.”

“What?” Harriet asked her. “Until the next time you run out of money or want to be queen yourself?”

“I wouldn’t want that title for the world,” Estelle assured Harriet. “Once I’m formally a duchess, I can have my pick of titled or untitled billionaires.”

Harriet saw something flash in Estelle’s eyes that hit one of her heartstrings. It was the look of pain that made Harriet suddenly get a glimpse into what life must’ve been like for Estelle. Orphaned at an early age, she was thrust into her uncle’s world of titles, and the only people she had to rely on for love and support were Leon Senior, Gloria, and her horrid cousin Leon. Although Leon did adore Estelle, his love was destructive, just like his father’s.

Harriet let out a breath as she faced Estelle. “Estelle, if you need help, any help… And I’m not talking about trying to set Gloria up with my uncle, which, trust me, is not a good idea as I think he’s starting to become as nutty as you are. All you ever had to do was ask.”

Estelle’s brows shot up in surprise for a few seconds before they narrowed, “You don’t think I’ve tried.” Her voice was low and wobbled slightly before she lifted her chin, and the ice was back in her eyes. “I’ll give you twenty-four hours to think about my deal, and while you’re thinking it over, tell Finn that I was at the accident a lot sooner than I said and saw everything.“ She gave Harriet a tight smile before pivoting and stalking off before Harriet could respond.