Adeline shakes her head as she studies the outfit. I’m a hair shorter than she is, and just a bit slimmer, but the dress fits well enough.
“I knew we wouldn’t have time to go back to Lord Thane’s estate before dinner tonight.” She frowns as she stretches out my arms, checking the length of the fitted lace sleeves. They’re a bit long. “I’m sorry about tonight.”
I shrug, again pretending I don’t care.
Adeline looks beautiful in her gown. It’s a shimmering silk in a copper shade that glints blue in the light. She wears a basquine and a farthingale, which together give her a tiny waist which tapers to a full skirt. The off-the-shoulder sleeves showcase her delicate silhouette.
I’m sure she and Sebastian will make a striking couple.
“Why are we bothering with this?” I ask as she begins fussing with my hair. “Rembard and Gladia won’t care what I’m wearing.”
“You are not the girl you were when you left home two years ago.” She waits until I meet her eyes in the mirror. “You should not be ashamed of that.”
“I’m afraid people will think I’m living above my station,” I say honestly since it’s just us two. “My mother already does.”
“Or maybe she sees you slipping away, and the clothes are the outward sign that you have truly decided to live your own life—a life that doesn’t reflect her choices. Perhaps she just misses you.”
I nod because she might be right.
There’s a knock at the door, and Adeline’s hand flies to her waist. She takes a deep breath, nervous…excited. “Do I look all right?”
Pushing back a sudden bout of jealousy, I press my lips together and nod. Adeline does look lovely, and she has become a good friend. I truly have no reason to harbor ill will for her. Even if she fancies Sebastian.
After all, what girl wouldn’t? And it’s not as if I’ve told her of my own feelings for him.
Adeline calls Sebastian in. I purposely turn so I don’t have to see him walk through the door. I already have an idea what he’ll be wearing—the same cut of jacket he wore for the Duke of Mesilca’s ball. The same style of ornate doublet.
But it’s not Sebastian at the door but a footman. Adeline calls a goodbye over her shoulder, reminding me to take a cloak before I go, and then she’s gone. I stand by the door, listening to Sebastian’s family carriage roll down the street. Once they’re gone, I step into the night.
The sun has set. Large, fat candles flicker in the street lamps. Wreaths of autumn flowers hang from each one, and merry ribbons flutter in the whisper of a breeze. There’s a harvest festival tomorrow. Usually, Reshire’s streets are empty when it grows dark, but people are about tonight, preparing for the celebration. I pause near the main square where the traveling caravans set up shoppe. But they are not here, and because of that, the nefarious types who are drawn to their illicit wares do not linger.
Instead, large, brawny men carry in dozens of tables. Several women point and nod, instructing them where to place everything. Tomorrow morning, they’ll add the tablecloths and decorations. There will be competitions with judges scrutinizing produce, preserves, and more. And there will be food. So much food.
I haven’t been to one in years.
With a sigh, I continue toward the chandler’s shoppe. As I walk through the familiar city, I watch it all, keeping to myself. No one recognizes me in the dim light, not in Adeline’s finery.
I’m so consumed with the festival preparations, I almost don’t notice that the chandler’s windows are dark. I hold up my hand to knock, but just before I do, the hair on the nape of my neck prickles. I step back, my fisted hand hanging in the air. The shoppe has an empty feeling about it, as if its inhabitants are gone for the evening. But Gladia said eight sharp. She’s not one to forget an engagement.
Goosebumps spread along my arms. Though I cannot explain it, I know something is off.
As silently as possible, I turn the handle and ease the door open. Surely I misunderstood the chandler’s wife. I must have the time wrong. That’s all.
It’s pitch black inside, and the familiar smell of beeswax hits me as soon as I slip through the door. I close it quietly behind me and pause a moment, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the dim light.
The room is delightfully warm—not from the sleeping fire, but one of the thermocharms Rembard favors. He says the candles in his workroom get droopy if he stokes the fire enough to warm the back where the living quarters are.
I’m being silly. Nothing is amiss.
Just as I’m about to step back into the street, there is a clatter from upstairs. It’s not a terribly alarming noise; it sounds like a cat knocked something from a table. Except Rembard and his wife don’t have a cat. And cats don’t generally let out muffled curses.
I instinctively feel for my dagger, but my fingers find only lace. I left it in Lord Thane’s shoppe with the rest of my things. If the chandler is in danger, I need to locate the constable or one of his guards. I’m just feeling my way back to the door when footsteps sound on the stairs to my right. A man whispers to another—an unfamiliar, menacing voice that has my blood turn to ice. There’s no way I’ll be able to reach the door before they spot me.
Cursing myself for coming inside instead of going for help right away, I slink toward the back, ducking behind Rembard’s dipping bench as I go. I’m almost to the back door when a silhouette steps in front of me, blocking my path.
“She was supposed to be here by now,” a deep voice says. “Her mother said the invitation was for eight o’clock.”
“She’ll be here.”
My heart races like a bunny running from a wolf. She? Surely they aren’t speaking of Gladia. What could the chandler’s wife have possibly done to make these kinds of enemies? Whatever it was, it was bad because something tells me this isn’t an impromptu surprise party.
“We haven’t got all night. The chandler and his wife will be back soon. Are you sure she didn’t go to the castle with Lord Thane?”
Me. That’s who they’re looking for. My leg begins to tremble.
If only I wasn’t unarmed. There are at least three of them. Two behind me and one in front. I’m trapped.
Luckily, they didn’t hear me come in. Thank goodness I didn’t call out when I arrived. Maybe I can wait them out. They seem reluctant to light a candle. I can stay here, hide in the shadows until they’re gone.
My legs begin to cramp from crouching, but I don’t dare move. Minutes go by, and then maybe half an hour. They have a few more short conversations. My muscles scream for me to move, and my toes are asleep. I shift the tiniest bit, but then my limbs begin to tingle—tiny pins stab all over as the blood returns.
I’m not going to make it much longer.
“I tell you, she went to the castle.”
Another curse follows a whispered argument I can’t quite make out, and then—finally—they shuffle toward the door. A cool breeze blows through the room as the men exit into the night. Still on edge, I lower myself to the ground, letting out the tiniest of groans.
“What was that?” a new voice says from the back.
Just as I freeze in terror, a hand slaps over my mouth, and strong arms pull me under the workbench. I begin to struggle, but a familiar voice hisses in my ear, so quietly I almost can’t make it out, “Stop. They’ll hear you.”
A dozen memories assault me all at once, and rage merges with my terror.
But as the footsteps draw near to us, terror wins.
Once my companion is satisfied I won’t cry out, he moves his hand from my mouth. He wraps his arm around me, crushing me to his chest. It’s a protective move, close and intimate, and my skin crawls.
From under the workbench, I watch a pair of boots get closer…and closer. Until they finally stop in front of us.
Please don’t let him look down.
Suddenly, something leaps on the table, making the man jump back. I almost shriek in alarm, but I purse my lips, willing myself to stay silent.
<
br /> The creature lets out a horrifying hiss, spitting and yowling at the intruder. The man mutters about mangy beasts and returns to his watch in the back.
Apparently, Rembard and Gladia did get a cat.
“We’re going out the front,” my shadowy companion whispers in my ear. “The minute you pass the threshold, you run. Do you understand? I’ll find you if we get separated, I swear.”
Even though this isn’t the time to argue, I twist in the muscular arms locked around me. “Going to put another tracking spell on me?”
Ignoring me, Captain Avery Greybrow lets me out of his grasp. “Stay low and be quiet.”
Why do I always find myself in a dress when men are trying to attack me? It’s not easy to crawl with three layers of skirt in the way. I end up yanking the fabric up to my thighs just so I won’t trip on the hem when we make the mad dash to the front door.
“Are you ready?” Avery asks.
I nod, though I’m not sure if he can see me in the dark.
“Run!”
Together, we leap forward, racing toward the front. A man yells from behind me, but my entire focus is on the door. There’s a blast of fire behind us and the sound of crashing glass.
Avery barely beats me to the door. He wrenches it open and shoves me outside.
And I’m running.
I have no idea if the captain is behind me, but he better be, because when we lose our attackers, the two of us are going to have words—and in the last few months, I’ve thought of some good ones.
People gasp and cry out as I shove past them, but what really gets them riled up are the orbs of fire hurtling down the peaceful streets.
Idiots.
Nothing is going to draw in the constable and his men faster. There are provinces in Kalae that allow destructive magic. Reginae isn’t one of them.
Because I grew up in this city, I have the advantage. I whip through the streets, taking alleys and side routes, glancing behind me every few moments to make sure Avery still follows.
Finally, when I’m positive we’ve lost them, I lead us to the nearby forest.
Gasping for breath, I double over. I managed to shred the hem of my dress and nearly ripped a sleeve clean off. Adeline’s not going to be pleased. She never is when I ruin a gown.
Avery collapses on the ground, stretching out and letting his head flop back on years of fallen pine needles. Though I’m exhausted—though my muscles ardently protest—I march to him, fueled on anger alone, and stomp a foot down on his chest, holding him in place.
“What are you doing here?” I demand.
“Isn’t it obvious?” The captain has the audacity to grin. It’s a lazy expression, amused. “I’m rescuing you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
The Plan
“Rescuing me?” I ask, my voice shrill. I add a bit more pressure to his chest.
“Stop that,” he mutters, groaning.
“Stop? Stop?” I’m just getting properly worked up when the captain literally sweeps me off my feet, catching me as I fall to the ground. And then he’s over me, pinning me down, bringing back vivid memories of a night I’ve relived a million times in the last few months.
“I’ve missed you, Lucia,” he says, grinning.
“How…dare…you…” I can’t finish. All the rehearsed words fly from my head now that the captain is in front of me. And it’s too bad. They were good words.
Instead, I focus on the problem at hand. “Who were those men? Acquaintances of yours, I presume?”
“Why do you automatically assume I’m at fault? I don’t remember stealing Duke Eldemyer’s map.”
He gives me a cheeky grin. “In fact, if I remember correctly, that was you.”
All the fight leaves me, and I let my shoulders sink into the loamy soil. Clenching my eyes shut, I groan. “I hate you. So much.”
“Ever had a bounty on your head?”
I open my eyes and glare at him with so much animosity it’s a good thing I don’t practice destructive magic myself. Avery would go up in flames.
Conversationally, Avery continues, “I haven’t either, actually.”
“Where are the cuttings?”
All I must do is bring a few dozen orchids and the map back to the duke. Surely then we’ll be forgiven.
“Funny thing—”
“Avery!”
“Horticulture is apparently not one of my—”
I push him hard, making him let me up. “If you tell me you killed the orchids—”
He cocks his head to the side. “Lucia…”
“You didn’t.”
Mock solemn, he nods. “I’m afraid so.”
Shrieking, I lunge on him, as angry as a wildcat and twice as determined. I grapple with him, yelling out gibberish and all kinds of things that don’t even make sense. I’m proud to say it takes him several long moments to contain me.
After a few minutes of pointless fighting, I stop straining against his arms. Desperation claws at my chest. What are we going to do?
Suddenly, I realize there are more players in this game. I yank away from him and take several steps back. “What about Sebastian and Adeline?”
They are at the soirée—the soirée the first men went looking for me at.
Avery crosses his arms, studying me. “Sebastian is safe. He’s in too many social circles. According to my extremely reliable sources, the duke isn’t going after him.”
“And Adeline?” I demand.
He clears his throat. “They’re looking for her.”
I’m already heading back toward to the city. “We have to warn them. We must get her away from here.”
Avery grasps me by the shoulder, pulling me back. “They won’t try anything while she’s with Sebastian. By taking her to the duke’s dinner tonight, he temporarily elevated her status. She’ll be the talk of the city for a good month, especially if she lingers here.”
He says the words almost gently, as if he knows how much they’ll hurt.
“I have a plan,” he adds.
I laugh, but it’s a broken sound.
Ignoring me, he continues, “Do you have the map?”
“If you honestly think I’m going to trust you—”
“Are you going to hold a little thing like my stealing the orchids against me forever?” he asks, cutting me off. He’s forcing a light tone, but from the way he shifts, I wonder if the unflappable captain is uncomfortable. “You’ll have to forgive me eventually.”
Scoffing, I turn and wrap my arms around myself. It’s cold, especially now that my anger is ebbing. The night surrounds us, and the breeze is too cool. Suddenly this refuge in the trees is lonely.
“You betrayed me,” I say softly.
He pauses. “I did.”
“You hurt me.”
I wait for him to spout off an automatic apology, one he doesn’t mean, but he doesn’t even do that. He stays silent.
I whip around. “How can you expect me to blindly follow you?”
He looks at me, his expression as close to helpless as I’ve ever seen it. After several moments, he shakes his head, at a loss for words.
More disappointed than I should be, I look away. “I’ll figure this mess out on my own.”
He’s not worth it; he never was. These last few months I’ve spent dreaming of what I’d say to the captain when we met again—how I’d ruin him with my words—they were moments wasted. I should have moved on.
I look at Avery, detached, taking note of all the things I once admired—his handsome face and tawny eyes, his lean, strong build. The knowing smirk that’s currently hidden under a frown. They mean nothing to me now.
I don’t feel anger; I don’t feel anything. I am numb—and so very tired.
“You can’t go home,” he says when I turn away from him. “They’ll follow you there.”
“I’m not going home,” I say with my back to him. “I’m going to Sebastian.”
But that’s practically the same thing.
*
**
“What are we going to do?” I ask Sebastian three hours later in his grandfather’s shoppe.
He sits in a chair, thinking, head clutched in his hands. Still in her gown, Adeline paces the room, looking pale—and that’s saying something considering how milky her complexion is usually.
I waited by the shoppe for hours, hoping they would return before they traveled back to Silverleaf. I jumped at every noise, cursing myself for acting like such a girl. I’ve never been so relieved as I was when they arrived.
“What have you done with the map?” Sebastian asks.
“It’s with my things in Kirsten’s room. We have to go back anyway—I won’t abandon Flink.”
“We must sail back to Grenalda and find a way to make peace with the Duke.” As Sebastian says the words, he glances at Adeline. “I don’t think we have a choice.”
What are we going to do with Adeline? We can’t take her back, not when the duke wants her head as well. We can’t leave her here alone either. The only thing keeping her safe is that people now believe she’s Sebastian’s intended. The girl he brought home to meet his grandfather.
The future Lady Thane.
Stop.
I press a hand to my rolling stomach and close my eyes. If Sebastian leaves her, she will soon fall out of the public eye. When that happens, she’ll be a sitting duck.
“I’ll go,” I say, trying not to groan. “You must stay here with Adeline to keep her safe.”
“Lucia!” Adeline whips around. “You cannot go to Mesilca by yourself.”
“Of course I can.” I stand a little straighter even though I’m wrestling with doubts of my own.
Sebastian meets my eyes and shakes his head, wearing the stubborn expression that tends to make me want to prove him wrong. “I won’t allow it.”
“You won’t allow it?” I ask, incredulous. “You—”
“Stop.” He rubs his hand over his face and groans. “Not now.”
I walk across the room and yank his hands down, making him meet my eyes. “Have faith in me, Sebastian.”
“I do have faith in you.”
“Then let me go.”
His expression goes hard, and he begins to shake his head. Before he can argue, I say to Adeline while still looking at Sebastian, “Could you give us a moment?”
Greybrow Serpent (Silver and Orchids Book 2) Page 4
