Walking out of the shed, Walter breathed in the cool air with a frown. That worked out a little too well. When did he get proficient in the art of blackmail? Lady Steinhouse walked slowly and stood beside Walter. A lot of questions ran through her mind. How did Walter know of the king's Plan? Does he know all this was arranged by the king? Sensing that she had questions, Walter cut to the chase.
"There is not much the lady does not know in this kingdom," Walter explained.
"She is someone held in high esteem and certainly, at all times, held in fear. Even though I don't understand why, I guess I should not be too surprised," she said and he turned to face her. Though it was dark, she could still make out the outline of his face in her mind.
"Thank you for your help. Lady Wickshire, what are her true intentions? I wonder sometimes," Lady Steinhouse said.
"It's best you stop wondering," Walter said.
"You then, you have never introduced yourself. I don't know much, save the fact that you work for Lady Wickshire," she said.
"I have introduced myself before," he said.
"You only said you were called Walter, nothing else. I want to know where you live, what you do..." she started to ramble on.
"Why do you want to know this?" Walter frowned. Though his family had decided to openly allow people in, he was not sure telling someone who knows the money is probably with him where he lives.
"If I have to write you, or contact you, where will I send the message?" she asked.
"Lady Steinhouse, I understand that..." Walter started to say.
"Helen. Call me Helen," she said and Walter's frown deepened.
"Why would I do that?" Walter asked.
"Why not? No one is around. Besides, I will only truly respond to your call if you use my name," she said. Walter's face couldn't have gotten any darker, but she could not tell in the dark, so went on.
"When we are alone, of course. It would be odd if you called me by my given name in public," she said.
"Do you think we are alone?" he said and she glanced at her guards and personal guard, who looked ahead as though they had not heard a thing.
"So, you won't call me by my name because of some guards? They are loyal to me," she said. Walter had no intention of staying for the conversation and turned to leave. Seeing that Walter had started to walk away, she hugged his frame, making Walter pause. If his face could fall any further, it would. Did this woman have plans to have him killed? She may be an attractive woman and he could not lie that he could not smell her new perfume and notice her coquettish behaviour when talking to him and found it tempting, he could not forget the fact that she was a widowed duchess, the king's niece. He could not have thoughts about her. Why did she insist on acting like this?
"What are you doing?" he asked gravely.
"Why are you leaving so fast? We have yet to decide what to do with him," she said ignoring his tone.
"You can figure it out yourself," Walter said. He could not feel her frame through the heavy coat, but could still smell her. The thought that she was that close made him feel hot all of a sudden.
"I don't know how to handle this. Should I let his family go?" she mumbled but he still heard.
"Hold them till he has done his part. Release him to gather evidence on the other three ministers and present it to you," he said.
"Then, how do I contact you when I'm done?" she asked.
"Send a token to the Krain estate in the Brim plantation, south of the capital, with my name and I'll come to you. Never come yourself," he answered. He did not want to tell her at first, but he did if it would get her to let him go any faster. Seeing as she still hugged his waist, he frowned.
"Why are you not letting go?" he asked.
"it's cold," she mumbled, but Walter had had enough. He forcefully unwrapped her arm from his torso and turned to face her. He knew he was considerably tall in build, but her height was only helping him seem taller, that he would even ignore her age sometimes when he looked down at her.
"Next time, don't wear something so thin on such a cold night," he said as he took off his coat and placed it over her before turning to leave. Seeing him leave, she smiled. She could smell him on the coat and the warmth of his body had yet to dissipate, making her snuggle deeper into the coat.