Amelia sat on a chair placed far from where Warren and his father worked. She cared very little about the work they were doing and more about the chance she would get to speak to either man.
"To the left," Amelia snapped at the maid meant to be shading her. "I hope the palace maids will be far better trained than you. The sun is reaching me."
"Forgive me, Miss Amelia," the maid said, shifting the parasol so Amelia would be covered.
Amelia sighed, trying to be patient since a better time was coming. Soon, she wouldn’t have to stomach her father’s servants, and she would be the one to command hundreds of them.
Amelia eyed the key to her getting one step closer to the prince.
Stories about Penelope increased by the hour and as long as they were twisted to sound believable, these stories would not stop soon.
Amelia chuckled, thinking of the gossip she heard that a man of the court had loudly expressed that Penelope wasn’t suited for the prince.
It couldn’t get any better than this.
Seeing Noah walk off, leaving his son behind, Amelia took this as her chance to have a word with Warren.
Amelia stood up, pushing the parasol she no longer needed out of the way. She approached Warren, who pretended he didn’t see her.
Amelia knew it was likely that he was smitten with her, so he behaved as he did now. She was used to it, but a man like Warren should know that he had no chance.
Amelia waited quietly for Warren to acknowledge her presence, but for some odd reason, he continued to work.
She frowned, annoyed by the way he acted.
"I am quite certain that you see me standing here, Mister Kennedy. Do you lack the manners to acknowledge the person who employs you?" Amelia asked.
"With all due respect, you didn’t employ us. Your father did, and again, you are disturbing us. Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to approach a man unaccompanied ? What kind of rumours are you trying to start?" Warren asked, looking up to give Amelia the attention she craved.
Amelia closed her hand into a ball.
She wished she could order the maids to toss something on Warren as punishment for the way he spoke to her.
"I am no mere lady for you to speak to me . I have given you work. My father built this garden house to please me, so it is thanks to me that you have work," Amelia said, feeling triumphant.
Warren had enough of Amelia at his side. He didn’t need her father to come later and accuse him of something he did not do. "What do you want from us? You’ve been staring for the last couple of hours. Say it."
"You are a man who lacks manners, but that is no surprise with your upbringing. Your mother, Kate Barett-"
"Kennedy," Warren corrected Amelia. "You know that she is married."
"Right. Kate Kennedy, how is she fairing? Is she well, or do her troubles from the past persist?" Amelia asked, drawing closer to Warren.
"My mother is none of your concern," Warren replied.
Amelia frowned. Why did he need to have such an attitude?
"How could I not be concerned given her circumstances? When I heard the stories of what happened to her, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for her," said Amelia.
Truthfully, this was hardly the case since records showed that Kate wasn’t so innocent. She had gotten caught up in her desperate attempts to have the town’s attention on her.
"Does the Duchess Alessandra Collins aid you with your mother? She has the wealth and influence to do it, so one could only expect she is active with her sister. She isn’t, is she?" Amelia smiled, getting what she wanted. "You should tell the town about this. It would have the duchess be forced to help you."
"My mother is not some kind of piece for you to use to go after Penelope and her mother. I suggest you stop talking before your guards have a reason to run over here," said Warren.
What Amelia was seeking to do was the kind of thing his mother hated most.
Amelia stepped back, shielding herself from Warren behind her maids. "How dare you speak to me like that. I was being kind to ask about your mother and suggest a way to help you. All of you are rude."
Amelia hated that her plans weren’t going as she laid them out. When her father heard of this, he was not going to be pleased.
Amelia cleared her throat, deciding to give it a second try. "Are you close to Penelope?"
"If you are trying to use my mother’s past to make the Collinses look bad, then don’t try to be discreet. Be out with it and stop boring me with your plans. I know that you are competing with Penelope for the prince’s attention," Warren said, seeing through her curiosity.
While they had never spoken before, Warren knew well that Amelia was one of the women eyeing the prince, and Penelope stood in her way.
"The current rumours going around about Penelope must benefit you. I fail to see what you like about the prince," said Warren.
There was more to it than liking the prince. What she wanted from being with the prince was power and a grand title.
Becoming queen was always something Amelia looked forward to and knew she was destined to become. Nothing was going to stand in her way.
"Are you close to Penelope? I have never seen you near the Collinses. It truly is awful what has become of your mother. I think she has suffered enough, and it is about time that her son shares how he feels about the town. I will pay you," Amelia offered.
Amelia knew money would make him change his mind. She could offer him twice what he would be paid for his work today or more than he would make in a week because she could afford it.
"You normally throw around money and expect everyone to do as you say, don’t you?" Warren asked.
"Not everyone. Only those I know are desperate. You would be foolish to want to protect the Collinses after they have mistreated your mother. I heard Lady Kate was one of the most desired women in Lockwood. Don’t you want to get revenge for your mother?" Amelia asked, hoping he would say yes.
"My mother wasn’t a saint," Warren said, knowing Amelia spoke of his mother in a good light to convince him.
"I know that. She’s a woman who did what she needed to get ahead, like I must do. So," Amelia said, offering her hand to Warren. "Do we have a deal?"