Lucius shot Jasper a murderous look. "If I discover you're behind this leak, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
"I chased after you the second I learned you were heading to the palace. When exactly would I have had time to spill anything?" Jasper held up his hands defensively.
Seeing Lucius swing himself onto his horse with urgent haste, Jasper called out, "I'm riding with you."
——
Bella's POV
Back at the duke's estate, I stayed alert for any sounds from outside. Long hours dragged by before Jasper finally made it back.
Penny rushed in with updates, her voice reassuring. "Don't fret. They managed to stop him."
She poured me a steaming cup as she continued. "Lady Bella, your father intercepted Lord Thorne just outside the palace gates. Once Lord Thorne learned that Lady Thorne had fallen gravely ill, he rode straight home."
That's all Penny could gather—everything beyond that remained unclear.
But I'd already connected the dots.
