Recently docked after a voyage abroad, Emmett wants only to find a warm bed and good food, for himself and the cabin boy he's taken into his care. Those plans are impeded, however, by an altercation in the streets -- with a man he realizes too late is England's heir to the throne, Prince Andrewe.<br><br>When the encounter unexpectedly leads to a position in the royal household attending the prince, Emmett is not certain what to think. On one hand, it's a reliable income and ensures the safety of his charge. On the other, it's neither the life Emmett knows, nor an environment that he's comfortable in. Left to learn his lessons the hard way, Emmett spends his days contending with a spoiled, infuriating prince who leaves him in a constant tangle of emotions.<br><br>Then he begins to hear whispers of treason and must make a choice: defend Prince Andrewe or betray him.

Honour

“So,” Prince Andrewe said, clicking his tongue in bored distaste. “Your opinion is this,” he waved his right hand. “Which you believe strongly enough to argue of to a stranger.” He held Emmett’s gaze. “Yet because of who I am you would suddenly choose not to hold those beliefs?”


Emmett licked dry lips. He flicked his eyes towards the guard that gripped a wrist with a scowl, to the two that stood alongside, and finally back to Prince Andrewe. “I would choose, sir, not to speak them.”


Prince Andrewe leaned forward, until their noses almost touched, and breathed out words that were rich with mint. “Then you are a coward.”


It took all the control Emmett could muster not to reach for his dagger in prideful retribution. “No, your Highness,” he whispered back. “I am wise. You are a mountain and I am but an anthill. While that makes me no less important, it does make me easy to destroy.”


“And do you fear your own destruction?”


“I will do my best to prevent it, your Highness.”


Chapter 5