Page 17 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“I’m sure Hargreaves can wait, and I did tell my parents I’d bring you over.” Carrick moved his arm, inviting her to take it. “Barons do hate to be kept waiting.”

Adelaide glanced at Regulus apologetically, but took Carrick’s arm. “Of course.”

Regulus’ spirits fell as they walked away. He turned and scanned the crowd for Dresden. He spotted him talking to a young noblewoman standing against a wall. Drez leaned toward her with a teasing smile as he spoke, and the girl blushed and laughed and rolled her eyes. Regulus shook his head. Did all his knights have to be ladies’ men, while he couldn’t manage one full conversation without a blunder? He spotted Adelaide conversing with the baron and baroness. Carrick stepped closer and placed his hand on Adelaide’s lower back, and she didn’t move away.

Who am I joking?If Dresden saw him, he would doubtless point out he was frowning again.She’s perfect, and I’m...He swallowed down his self-loathing.No woman would want me over a Carrick.And they’d be right, too.He hated he’d let Dresden’s nonsense get into his head.To think he could be just a man who liked a girl, not a scarred slave who shouldn’t even be here. Stupidity. The worst kind, too. Felt amazing in the moment, but left you aching.

Dresden now leaned against the wall next to the young lady and had a strand of her hair curled around his finger. With a sigh, Regulus made his way to the door. He wouldn’t pull Drez away when he was enjoying himself. He retrieved his cloak from the page at the front entrance, and headed home.

Chapter 6

AS SIR NOLAN CARRICKled her toward his parents, Adelaide glanced back over her shoulder. Lord Hargreaves was already looking away.I thought our conversation was engaging. Perhaps I was wrong.She looked forward again.Maybe I don’t want to know what he would have said.She didn’t know why she’d asked. He’d handed her an opportunity to ask someone’s honest opinion. The way he’d turned red and looked like a cornered rabbit left only two choices. In the moment, she had thought he intended to say something complimentary and was embarrassed. But maybe he was trying to figure out how to avoid telling her a harsher truth.

Sir Nolan leaned toward her, his voice low. “I apologize if that came across as rude, but the code of chivalry leaves me honor-bound not to leave a maiden in distress.”

“Distress?” Adelaide frowned and shifted her hand on his arm so they weren’t walking so close. “I wasn’t in distress.”

“Oh?” Nolan raised his brows. “I couldn’t imagine you were talking to that bastard mercenary willingly.”

Her mouth fell open in shock. “Ibegyour pardon?”

“I mean, sure, he’s not a mercenary anymore.” He shrugged. “Supposedly.”

She didn’t try to mask her shock and disgust. “That is hardly a civilized way to discuss a nobleman.”

“You clearly haven’t heard about Hargreaves.” He smiled slyly. “I’ll tell you the abridged version—he’s not to be trusted. Ah, here we are.” He leaned close and whispered, “They didn’t actually ask to speak to you, but it was the best excuse I could think of.”

Adelaide swallowed back her disdain and plastered on a smile as they stopped in front of the baron and baroness. She used the opportunity to curtsy as a pretense to release Nolan’s arm.

“A splendid recitation, my dear.” The baroness smiled. A few short, wispy white-gray strands of hair peeked out from her wimple.How old fashioned.She was short and had a full face etched with smile lines.

“Thank you, my lady.” Back to boring niceties.

“Indeed,” Baron Carrick raised his glass of wine toward her, as if offering a toast.

“Tell me,” the baroness said, “what are your interests? Hobbies?”

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