Page 96 of Forsaken Secrets

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Kaiya

"Lady Maderoth. Miss Maderoth. A Lord Elimri Westin is here to see you."

My stomach dropped. Eli … was here? The almost-kiss replayed in my mind and my cheeks heated.

"Please show him in." Aunt Grace's voice echoed in my skull and I met her curious eyes.

Gods. What was he doing here?

Eli stepped through the door, dressed in a suit that fit his lean muscles like a glove. He dipped into a bow and I forced my eyes not to stare at how his jacket stretched across his shoulders.

His eyes met mine, and a shiver slid down my spine at the strange look in them.

"Good morning, ladies," he said. He looked … determined today.

"Ah, Eli. We meet again," Aunt Grace said.

The corner of Eli's mouth ticked up, and he nodded. "It's a pleasure, Lady Maderoth."

I shook my head and stood, smoothing my skirts that suddenly seemed far too tight. "Thank you for coming Eli — Lord Westin. How can we help you this morning? Perhaps you'd like to step outside and chat?"

His smile grew, and he took a seat next to Aunt Grace. "Why thank you, Miss Maderoth, but I actually came to speak with your beautiful aunt this morning."

I gaped at him. The sheer gall! He came to speak with my aunt? What if I hadn't been here? Was he going to tell her about our almost-kiss? Gods. I hoped not!

He pulled his attention from me and focused it on Aunt Grace. "Lady Maderoth, I came to ask your permission to take Miss Maderoth on a carriage ride."

She looked between us, brown eyes sparkling. "Of course, Lord Westin. I believe that Miss Maderoth could do with some fresh air this morning. She was just complaining of how little sleep she got last night."

I glared at them and forced a calm smile, but my palms felt sweaty and my heart was beating way too fast. I just needed to get him out of here. The last thing I needed was him spilling all our adventures. Aunt Grace did not need to know just how much trouble I'd gotten into lately …

"Why thank you both for planning my day. We'd better get going, Lord Westin."

"Have a lovely time, you two. And Lord Westin, Kaiya said she'd speak with you to set a dinner date. Don't let her forget, please."

Eli smirked at me and bowed to my aunt. "Of course not. It would be my honor."

I grabbed his elbow and tugged him out of that room as quickly as I could. What in the seven hells was he thinking?

We got outside, and Eli burst out laughing. "Your face, Kaiya! Oh gods. That was simply amazing."

I turned to face him, hands on my hips. "Elimri Westin, I CANNOT believe that you just showed up here without talking to me! What if I hadn't told her about us being friends yet?"

His brow quirked at friends, but he shrugged. "Then she would have learned today. If I'm going to keep courting you, she'll need to learn about me sometime …"

Courting me? "Wh — courting me?" Did he just say he was courting me? Something twisted uncomfortably in my chest and I stared at him, wide-eyed. Surely he was joking? Wasn't he leaving soon?

Eli laughed it off and gestured towards the large white carriage sitting in the drive. "Miss Maderoth, if you'd care to join me?"

I gaped. He had a carriage? I thought he'd just been telling Aunt Grace that, but he actually had a carriage!

I stalked ahead of him and climbed up, not waiting for him to help me. We didn't need a repeat of the previous night.

He laughed quietly and jumped up on the other side, taking the reins and sliding close to me. We weren't actually touching, but the heat of his body warmed me, nonetheless. I swallowed and forced myself to ignore it.

"Do you know how to drive this?" I asked, clearing my throat.

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