Page 85 of The Rebel's Prize

"It's not unheard of. Sometimes the smallest things turn out to be the key in these situations. If he truly cares for her, he may cooperate if he thinks it will help her."

She winced, and he cocked his head. "You don't approve?"

She pushed up from the sofa, suddenly feeling the need to move. "I think he's foolish if he believes she cares. And he's going to pay a price for that foolishness."

Lucien crossed to her, enfolding her in a hug. "This must bring back old memories."

"Doesn't it for you?" She swallowed, trying to push away the regret and guilt and anger that always followed in the wake of her memories of Charl.

"Some. But I've been doing this for a long time. I can separate the past from the present when it comes to the work. It’s something we all have to learn." He released her. "You should go to bed. I'll be back as soon as I can."

He was out the door a few minutes later, leaving her alone in the townhouse, which suddenly felt too empty. She lingered in the front hall, uncertain what to do next.

She heard Madame Garot coming up behind her, the rattle of the keys she wore at her waist as good as a bell around a cat's neck. "Can I get you anything, my lady?"

"No, thank you. You should go. I'll be fine."

Though that much might not be true. She felt restless, unsettled now that Lucien was gone. She had been in the townhouse without him before, of course, but the weeks before the wedding had been a whirlwind, and she'd been glad for any chance to catch her breath. Now she felt...adrift. And not a little resentful that she'd been excluded, if she were honest.

Sleep didn't appeal, so she retreated to Lucien's study, taking up her book again. But she couldn't settle to reading and found herself pacing around the room, unsure of the source of the tension. Was it a trace of nerves from Lucien reaching her through the bond or just worry because she hadn't gone with him? She'd never really focused on how far from her he could be before she couldn't feel him. It was different from a bond with a sanctii. Octarus's own magic meant he could always find her, and she could always talk to him. But she didn't feel Octarus like she did Lucien.

She closed her eyes for a moment to see if she could feel him now. Maybe. A faint sense of him to the north of the townhouse, which was in the general direction of the palace.

Maybe she would be less on edge if they were closer. Perhaps she could go visit Imogene in the palace. It wasn't that late by aristo standards. The social season would normally be in full force, and even though some of the balls and entertainments had been reined in or delayed since the attack on the palace, no doubt some were still being held. The alliances of marriage formed during these events each year were too important to how the whole system of the noble families operated to cancel entirely.

Imogene hadn't mentioned that she had an engagement this evening, but that didn't rule it out. But even if Chloe arrived at their suite at the palace or their house in Coteau-Arge to find them not at home, doing something felt better than just sitting and waiting.

Mind made up, she rang for Madame Garot and asked her to send for a carriage. It rolled up in front of the townhouse nearly twenty minutes later, and one of the guards assigned to the house emerged out of the darkness as she descended the front stairs. "Lady Castaigne? Are you going out? Lord Castaigne didn't mention it."

"Lord Castaigne didn't know," she said tightly. "And yes, I intend to visit the Duquesse of Saint Pierre."

She thought he might argue with her, but he just nodded. "Very well, my lady. If you can wait a moment, I'll assign someone to go with you."

"I thought you all would have accompanied Lord Castaigne?" she said.

"Two of us did, my lady. Which leaves five of us here at the house."

"Five? Has the detail been increased?"

"Temporarily, yes."

Polite but brisk, which she interpreted as not wanting to tell her the specifics. Well enough. She didn't need anyone to spell out why they currently had more guards.

He walked to the carriage and opened the door for her. "Wait here and someone will be with you shortly."

Once, she might have thought it fun to ignore his request and tell Oscar to go on without waiting. But it would be foolish to put herself at risk on a whim.

The lieutenant worked quickly, and soon enough she felt the carriage settle a little under the weight of a guard joining Oscar in the driver's seat before Oscar's deep voice said, "Ready when you are, my lady."

"Thank you. The palace, please."

She settled back into the velvet and leather seat. It was far more comfortable than a caravan wagon. Oddly, the thought brought a small pang of regret that they weren't still with the caravan.

Perhaps she should ask Lucien if they could join one again at some point. Without the worry of having to find Deandra, she suspected it would be fun despite the discomforts. Time alone with Lucien without the full weight of his responsibilities was something she was going to have to pay attention to carving out for them. Though she suspected that to do so, she would have to take up some of the responsibilities related to Terre d'Etoi and the estate herself.

Maybe that would win Jacqueline's approval.

Lumia was quiet as they progressed through the darkened streets. They passed a few grand aristo houses lit up in ways that suggested they were hosting some form of entertainment, but it was still slightly early for the crush of carriages lining up to deliver the aristos who would be attending that might have slowed them down.

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