The Deal (2)

“How about we make a deal?” Claiborne asked smugly from the chair. Edwina glanced between him and Thackeray and breathed a sigh of relief. The prince had calmed down, his cheeks no longer flushed with anger, and his eyes were filled with determination. The shock of Lord Claiborne’s confession must have brought him to his senses.

“A deal? You’re in no position to negotiate, Claiborne,” the prince sneered. He crossed his arms and leaned against a wall, feigning disinterest.

“Ah, but I am,” Claiborne smiled, “You want the information I can provide. I could dismantle the entire alliance and serve them up to you for sentencing on a silver platter, depending on my mood,” Claiborne drummed his fingers on the chair armrests.

“You act as if you aren’t tied up,” Lilly scoffed.

“You should give us the information we want or you’ll get hurt. How’s that for a deal?” T