Page 139 of Pervade Montego Bay

My mouth went dry as the tension crackled between us.

Louis glanced back at James and Xavier.

“It’s your secret to reveal,” whispered James.

Louis gave a nod. “James, you and your father have done everything possible to make it so much better than it could have been for me.”

I looked over at James. “Your father’s name was James, too?”

He nodded.

So…the letter I’d found behind Victoria’s silver picture frame had been addressed to his father.

The boy is yours. Love him as we would have…

The letter was about Louis.

“I want her to know,” he said softly to James and Xavier.

Xavier stepped forward. He faced Louis and bowed. “As you wish, your Majesty.”

Louis’ smile of acknowledgment turned sad. “You see, Emily, despite the grandness of those words, they can never leave this place.”

“I don’t understand,” I said shakily.

“A young prince,” he began, “the oldest son of the Queen of England, had a child out of wedlock. That baby was destined to be a king one day. Only this scandal threatened to shake the very foundation of the monarchy. Therefore, it was decided the boy would remain a secret. He would be sent to a private home with a nanny. Then, at the age of four, he would go to a boarding school to live. He would be kept away from his family. When rumors leaked amongst the aristocracy of that boy’s possible existence, he was sent to live abroad.”

“To Montego Bay,” I said.

“A boy whose bloodline proved he could become king one day, but he could never claim the throne because…he doesn’t exist.”

I let out a pent-up breath. “Can nothing be done?”

James shook his head. “The fear that the scandal would ruin the reputation of the royal family went deep.”

“James,” I said. “The Queen asked your father to hide him?”

I realized she had written the letter to his dad asking him to take care of Louis.

Louis spoke up before James could answer. “James’ agency, with its unique and cutting-edge AI capabilities, was determined to be the best option for taking over the task of protecting me.”

“Pervade,” I whispered. “Pervade Montego Bay.”

James gave a nod. “The safest place.”

The pieces fell together like the notes of a perfect symphony. After James’ father had died, it had then been passed down to him to protect Louis. Keeping him out of the public eye, seeing that Louis had all he needed. Though there would be no property in his name. No public appearances except for that one day every year when he performed at his favorite charity event for the Victoria Manor.

Being a place that James had intimate knowledge of, Montego Bay was a perfect location with its mountains and lush landscape, diverse population and tourists.

The true heir to the throne was hidden away in paradise.

“Does the Queen know you’re here?” I asked.

“She does,” said Louis. “The books in what used to be my nursery are all from her.”

It was the same room in which I’d hidden from James. Before that, I’d discovered the watch that Louis was now wearing on his wrist—the one that had been engraved with his royal family crest.

“She’s really rather fond of me.” He crinkled his nose. “She sneaks in and visits sometimes.”