Page 107 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Adelaide’s shoulders shook as she exhaled and tried to keep calm. Nolan seemed to be waiting for her to say something, and when she didn’t, he cleared his throat.

“Yes, well. I made the offer at the tournament, but she wanted to think about it. When she saw the violent and foolhardy way Hargreaves reacted to being lawfully placed under arrest, she made her choice.” He smiled. “Right, love?”

“Right.” She forced a smile.

“Well, come in, come in!” Lady Drummond stepped out of the doorway and Nolan led Adelaide inside. “I hope you will stay the night, Sir Carrick. And join us for breakfast in the morning?”

Oh, no.

Nolan smiled. “Thank you, Lady Drummond, that would be perfect.” His gentle squeeze on her arm told her he had been counting on that invitation.

Minerva entered after them, followed by Gaius. She regarded Nolan with narrowed eyes. “Ad, I don’t recall you mentioning Sir Carrick proposing. Surely you would have told me.”

Nolan’s fingers dug into her arm. She swallowed and gave a noncommittal shrug. “I didn’t want someone else’s opinion to cloud my judgment. I needed time alone with my thoughts.” She met Min’s eyes and hoped she saw the apology written there—and the plea that she not continue this line of questioning.

“It is odd.” Gaius’ hand tapped his leg as he pushed the door closed. “With all due respect, before the tournament, Adelaide was clear she wasn’t interested.”

“And I changed her mind.” Nolan slipped his arm out of hers, looped it around her waist and drew her against his side. She desperately wanted to push him away. “I helped her understand what a smart match we make.” He ran his fingers down her cheek, making her skin crawl, and turned her face toward him. “We had our misunderstandings, but we’re on the same page now, aren’t we, love?”

“Yes,” she whispered, stiff as a frozen tree. “Dear.”

She realized what he was doing just before his lips met hers. Her hands curled into fists. It was a quick peck, a brief brush of his lips that didn’t even give her enough time to pull away, but enough to make her feel used and her skin itch.

Lady Drummond tittered. “Oh, look at you blush!”

It doesn’t mean what you think it does.“I’m quite tired after this...ordeal.” Adelaide slipped out of Nolan’s arm and headed for the stairs. “Goodnight.”

“That was...brusque,” Gaius said as she turned up the stairs.

“Ad, wait.” Minerva hurried after her. Adelaide paused and turned back. Nolan looked at her with warning in his eyes. For one terrifying moment as Minerva passed Nolan, Adelaide’s heart seemed to stop.Don’t you touch her.But Minerva passed Nolan without a problem and was by her side as they headed up the stairs.

Minerva waited until they were close to Adelaide’s room before she spoke. “What’s going on? You love Regulus, don’t deny it. And I saw your fists when he kissed you. What happened?”

Adelaide looked over her shoulder. They were alone in the hallway. Nolan wouldn’t overhear. All the same, she didn’t answer. Instead, she grabbed Min’s hand and hurried into her room. Once inside, she locked the door, then sat on her bed. Minerva sat next to her.

“If I tell you, you have to promise not to tell another soul. Not Gaius, not Mother or Father. No one.”

Minerva’s frown deepened. “Adelaide, what—”

“Promise me.”

“How can I promise that when I don’t know what’s going on?”

Adelaide’s shoulders slumped. “Just promise, Min. Please. Or I won’t tell you.”

“Fine.” Minerva didn’t sound happy, or convincing. But Adelaide couldn’t keep this in any longer.

“He didn’t exactly ask me at the tournament. After I helped Regulus...” Adelaide buried her face in her hands. “Nolan figured it out. He threatened to reveal my secret if I didn’t marry him and told me to think about that. And tonight...his plan was to kill Regulus to remove him as—as a rival.” She drew in a ragged breath.

“He said he would drop the charges against Regulus if I agreed to marry him. If I don’t marry him, he’ll have Regulus killed.” Adelaide lifted her eyes to Minerva’s horrified expression. “You can’t tell anyone! He’ll hurt...everyone. If he duels Gaius, he’ll win. He threatened to hurt you, to orchestrate a carriage accident. He threatened to have Gaius arrested, too.”

Minerva’s hands covered the lower half of her face.

“You can’t tell anyone. Not until I figure out a way to make sure he can’t make good on any of his threats.”

Minerva stood, her arms wrapped over her pregnant stomach. “I...Adelaide. This is insane. How are you supposed to keep him from making good on his word? We can’t wait until you’re married to him!”

“Keep your voice down.” She held her hands up and glanced toward the door. It would be crazy for Nolan to be on this floor. Lady Drummond wouldn’t stand for the impropriety. But Nolan was a snake. “I couldn’t let him take Regulus. He wouldn’t have lasted the night. And I couldn’t let him arrest Gaius.”

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