I sat back with a gasp.

“His behavior toward you was unforgivable.”

“If King Theo would execute him, your life is in jeopardy.”

Roman took a deep breath. “I’ve been trying to think.” His dark gaze met mine. “Tell me about Lord Avery.”

I shrugged. “He was Roman’s equivalent to your Lord Martin.”

“And yet I’ve never met him nor been told about him.”

“He knew,” I said with a new sense of dread. “Lord Avery knew that ...