feel the internal groan radiating off my brother. “That would be lovely.” He patted her hand on his arm then broke away, making a hasty exit.
My gaze flickered to the communicator on my wrist, twenty minutes until I had to meet Madden. It would take me at least that long to change and get out to the square. I grabbed a slice of pie from a passing tray and set it in front of me, because I needed a distraction. There was a chance he wouldn’t wait for me. The minutes ticked by and at five minutes to, after making polite conversation with Aubrey for the longest fifteen minutes of my life, I rose to my feet.
“Sir, I have an early morning training course. Please excuse me.”
The Baron studied me. “And your brother, where did he pinch off to?”
I swallowed. “He was ill, sir.”
“Code for he went to find more amusing debauchery than the striking female I have placed before him.” He scoffed, stroking his fingers over his graying beard.
I remained silent. It was better not to lie to the Baron’s face, nor would I admit the truth of where I knew my brother had gone. If he was caught in bed with a man, the Baron would have to do something about it. Right now it was ignored for the most part, which I think suited everyone.
“Go if you must. I have no further need for you here.”
It was the kindest dismissal I was going to get. I gave a slight bow and forced myself to walk calmly out of the place. I broke into a run when I reached the hall, skidding around the corners in heels.
I slipped into my room and yanked off my dress, tossing it into a pile in the corner.
I dug through the clothes on the floor, picking up a pair of leathers before pulling them on.
A skin tight green tank went over the corset I didn’t have time to try to get myself out of. The top of the black lace corset peeked out over the top of the tank, creating a nice image. I looked at my hair in the glass, and it was still beautifully sculpted and pinned up from dinner. It wasn’t worth fussing over either.
Late by a few minutes, I ran from my room heading out the back way, toward the fountain in the square. The outside air was cold as we were heading into fall. Brisk wind pulled at my cloak as I wrapped it tighter around myself. I had grabbed the red one, the house color, and wished I’d commissioned a black one like my brother had. Another thing to put on the list if I was determined to keep up this sneaking around.
The sky was covered in a low cloud layer, blocking out the six moons usually illuminating the night. I could make out the shade of the fountain from far off as I approached the abandoned square, but there was no figure in sight. I checked my comm again. It was ten past. Maybe he’d left.
I couldn’t stay out here long. The color of my cloak would draw unwanted attention.
Chapter Thirteen
Madden
“Shit.” The city around me had turned black, boasting even less life than it had a few hours ago. The cool air soothed my nerves as I walked toward where I hoped she would be.
It was after the last bell when I walked out of the abandoned building, and my head was spinning with information and the familiar faces I’d seen. Most of which some parts of me had known, without fully putting it together, and others, while well proven, seemed impossible. I couldn’t wrap my head around the atrocity hidden in plain sight. In a hierarchy which had stood for centuries, how could it go unnoticed for this long? I had a lot to think about, too much. I wasn’t the right person for this, not by a long stretch. I’d come out with more questions than answers, and I hated feeling like I was behind the curve. I had to put it out of my mind until the next meeting if I was going to focus on Jocelynn at all.
The square where we’d agreed to meet was around one more corner. She wouldn’t still be there. I was so late. The night was bitter cold, and it was wrong of me to leave her waiting. I took a step into the expansive square,
My gaze flickered to the communicator on my wrist, twenty minutes until I had to meet Madden. It would take me at least that long to change and get out to the square. I grabbed a slice of pie from a passing tray and set it in front of me, because I needed a distraction. There was a chance he wouldn’t wait for me. The minutes ticked by and at five minutes to, after making polite conversation with Aubrey for the longest fifteen minutes of my life, I rose to my feet.
“Sir, I have an early morning training course. Please excuse me.”
The Baron studied me. “And your brother, where did he pinch off to?”
I swallowed. “He was ill, sir.”
“Code for he went to find more amusing debauchery than the striking female I have placed before him.” He scoffed, stroking his fingers over his graying beard.
I remained silent. It was better not to lie to the Baron’s face, nor would I admit the truth of where I knew my brother had gone. If he was caught in bed with a man, the Baron would have to do something about it. Right now it was ignored for the most part, which I think suited everyone.
“Go if you must. I have no further need for you here.”
It was the kindest dismissal I was going to get. I gave a slight bow and forced myself to walk calmly out of the place. I broke into a run when I reached the hall, skidding around the corners in heels.
I slipped into my room and yanked off my dress, tossing it into a pile in the corner.
I dug through the clothes on the floor, picking up a pair of leathers before pulling them on.
A skin tight green tank went over the corset I didn’t have time to try to get myself out of. The top of the black lace corset peeked out over the top of the tank, creating a nice image. I looked at my hair in the glass, and it was still beautifully sculpted and pinned up from dinner. It wasn’t worth fussing over either.
Late by a few minutes, I ran from my room heading out the back way, toward the fountain in the square. The outside air was cold as we were heading into fall. Brisk wind pulled at my cloak as I wrapped it tighter around myself. I had grabbed the red one, the house color, and wished I’d commissioned a black one like my brother had. Another thing to put on the list if I was determined to keep up this sneaking around.
The sky was covered in a low cloud layer, blocking out the six moons usually illuminating the night. I could make out the shade of the fountain from far off as I approached the abandoned square, but there was no figure in sight. I checked my comm again. It was ten past. Maybe he’d left.
I couldn’t stay out here long. The color of my cloak would draw unwanted attention.
Chapter Thirteen
Madden
“Shit.” The city around me had turned black, boasting even less life than it had a few hours ago. The cool air soothed my nerves as I walked toward where I hoped she would be.
It was after the last bell when I walked out of the abandoned building, and my head was spinning with information and the familiar faces I’d seen. Most of which some parts of me had known, without fully putting it together, and others, while well proven, seemed impossible. I couldn’t wrap my head around the atrocity hidden in plain sight. In a hierarchy which had stood for centuries, how could it go unnoticed for this long? I had a lot to think about, too much. I wasn’t the right person for this, not by a long stretch. I’d come out with more questions than answers, and I hated feeling like I was behind the curve. I had to put it out of my mind until the next meeting if I was going to focus on Jocelynn at all.
The square where we’d agreed to meet was around one more corner. She wouldn’t still be there. I was so late. The night was bitter cold, and it was wrong of me to leave her waiting. I took a step into the expansive square,
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