Invasion: A Sequel to The Last Princess Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Order the carriage around!” she shouted to whatever servants were nearest. Her eyes were alight with delight. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, Eliza,” she added quietly, turning to me.
    “Of course Eliza was right,” Wesley said. “I knew it.”
    The word
ship
was spreading like wildfire among the guests, whispered from ear to ear in hushed, excited tones. They quickly gathered their coats and called for their own carriages. Everyone wanted to see this for themselves.
    Eoghan came to my side. “Will you and Wesley ride with us in the royal carriage?”
    “Of course,” I said. Wesley was already nodding his head.
    “Boys,” Eoghan addressed his sons and Jamie. “You’ll stay here.” Their voices immediately rose in loud, angry protest.
    “Eliza!” Jamie cried out, giving me his best puppy-dog pout. “Please let us come.”
    Eoghan crossed his arms over his chest, clearly refusing to budge, but Polly’s father, George, interrupted. “We have room in our carriage. They can ride with us.” He shot Eoghan a sheepish smile. “This ship could change everything. You don’t want to have to tell your grandchildren that you kept their parents from witnessing history.”
    “Fine,” Eoghan said, defeated. “But boys, stay close to Polly. Do whatever she and the McGregors say.”
    Polly nodded. “I’ll keep a close watch on them,” she promised.
    The full moon lit our way as we traveled to the coast in a long line of carriages, all of us still in our gowns from the rehearsal dinner. Around me, everyone seemed to be in high spirits, laughter and excitement bubbling up like the champagne we had toasted with earlier. I was the only one who seemed to feel the least bit uneasy. I tried to ignore theknot of doubt forming in my stomach, but I couldn’t stop thinking of that dead deer, and the fishhook, and the boot prints in the snow.

6
    I huddled into my coat against the cool night air, which tossed ocean spray into my face. Around me, the beach was a buzzing hive of activity. Guests from the rehearsal dinner gathered around torches, murmuring to one another in excitement, their shoes abandoned as they walked barefoot in the sand. Soldiers stood at attention around the general while the men of the coast guard consulted with him in hushed tones. Static from radios crackled, echoing loudly across the sky.
    “Look,” Mary said, gesturing out into the water.
    In the distance, floating far out to sea, was a large, dark shape. It was so massive and still that if I hadn’t known what to look for, I might have mistaken it for an island.
    Mary turned to the general. “How long before the
Royal Voyager
is ready to embark?”
    “Forty-five minutes at least,” General Wallace replied. “It takes time to fuel. And we hadn’t anticipated this.”
    Wesley shot me a look as if to say,
Eliza did
.
    Mary furrowed her brow. “Well, what about that ship there?” She pointed to a small schooner with raised sails.
    General Wallace immediately understood what Mary was suggesting. “Your Highness, with all due respect, I would advise that you wait for the
Voyager
. That boat can only take out fifteen at most. And it has no functioning weaponry.”
    “I’m taking it out there,” Mary said, clearly not listening. “Tell the men to start preparing it.”
    “Your Majesty, I—”
    “I’m coming with you,” Wesley called out, stepping forward. “We’ll take a few soldiers with us, General.”
    General Wallace pursed his lips, then reluctantly nodded. He knew better than to try and dissuade Mary once her mind had been made up. “All right,” he said. “But please, be careful.” He turned and headed toward the naval officers, to tell them the change of plans.
    “Mary,” I said carefully. “Are you sure about this?”
    It was as if she didn’t even hear me. Her eyes shining with delight, she turned to Eoghan. “You’ll stay here, with the boys and Jamie. And Eliza—”
    “I’m coming with you,” I said.