Page 24 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Dresden rolled his eyes. “Which you also addressed to her mother like a dunce.”

Regulus threw the grass over the fence at Drez, his irritation rising. What did it matter? Romance wasn’t his lot in life. Servitude was.

“Drez knows what he’s talking about,” Jerrick said. “I’d know.Ihave a wife.”

“See?” Dresden slapped Jerrick’s shoulder and turned back toward the canvas-covered wooden target. He threw the knife in a swift motion, and it buried at the edge of the red center of the target near three other knives.

Regulus nodded at Dresden’s target. “I see Estevan’s lessons are paying off.”

“Yes, just don’t tell him that. He already walks with enough of a swagger.” Drez pulled out another knife and shook it at Regulus. “But you’re trying to change the subject. Do what Jerrick would do.”

“If I recall, Jerrick, your courtship, for lack of a better term, consisted of you claiming you visited the same baker every day because he had the best bread you’d ever tasted when you were actually trying to seduce his daughter.” Regulus grinned, propped his hands behind his head, and leaned back against the oak trunk.

“Hey.” Jerrick pointed at Regulus, still holding a half-eaten roll. “He did have the best bread. He also had the most beautiful daughter. Now I have the best wifeandthe best bread.” He bit into the roll and wagged his finger at Regulus. “Don’t underestimate the power of freshly baked bread.”

“There you go.” Dresden spread out his hands. “Send her Sarah’s rolls. You’ll win her heart in no time.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”Although, sending Adelaide some nalotavi might not be the worst idea.He swatted a beetle off his pant leg.No, sending her anything is a bad idea.“We barely spoke.”

“And yet you can’t stop thinking about her,” Drez teased.

Regulus closed his eyes, picturing Adelaide’s brown eyes, her soft-looking dark hair. The way she smiled at him. He remembered Nolan Carrick, standing close to her, his hand on her back... He opened his eyes. “So? I’m sure she’s forgotten all about me.”

“Well, you haven’t done much to keep yourself in her thoughts,” Jerrick said. “It’s been two weeks since the letter. At this point, sending her rollswouldbe an improvement.”

Footsteps from the opposite side of the garden drew Regulus’ attention away from Jerrick. Perceval Williamson clomped toward them, scowling. He was older than Regulus by a few years, and his repeatedly broken nose had odd bumps. Perceval must have been working the fields around his and Leonora’s cottage again, because his face sported a light sunburn under his short, stiff brown hair.

Regulus stood. “What’s happened?”

“You’ve been snubbed, Captain.” Despite no longer being mercenaries, and despite the fact he’d asked his friends to call him Regulus, Perceval still insisted on calling him Captain. Perceval waved a folded letter. “The Carricks are hosting a party next week, and it doesn’t seem you’re invited.”

“Etiros above, I thought we might have a problem on our borders or something serious.” Regulus shrugged. “So? The Carricks never invite me. Carrick’s a baron, he can choose not to invite a lesser noble. Besides, I hate parties.”

“True.” Perceval grinned, his eyebrows lifting like he had a secret. “But those parties usually don’t have a certain dark-haired lady in attendance.”

“Adelaide will be there?” Regulus regretted how eager he sounded as Drez smirked. He reached over the fence and smacked the back of Dresden’s head.

“Indeed.” Perceval handed Regulus the letter.Lord Regulus Hargreaves of Arranowas written across the front in curling script.

“I thought you said Iwasn’tinvited?” Regulus flipped it over and sighed when he saw the broken seal. “Is it so hard for you all not to read my personal correspondence?”

“Didn’t recognize the seal,” Perceval grunted. “Precautionary measure.”

“What can a letter do to me, Perce?” Regulus eyed the rearing unicorn impressed on the torn red wax. He didn’t recognize it, either. He unfolded the parchment.

Dear Lord Regulus Hargreaves,

I apologize I did not write sooner. I hope you don’t think I bear you any ill-will for needing to leave early, although I wish you’d said goodbye. I hope to continue our conversation at Baron Carrick’s party. I do hope you’ll stay longer. Perhaps I can discover if you are as good a dancer as you are a conversationalist.

Signed,

Lady Adelaide Belanger

Regulus’ heart about stopped. As he reread the letter, his emotions jumped from elated to defeated. Adelaide wanted to see him again. She wanted to talk to him. She wanted todancewith him. But he had received no invite. He stared at the gentle curves of her signature.Wait.He jerked his head up and glared at Perceval. “You read this?”

Perceval held up his hands. “How was I supposed to know it was from Lady Belanger?”

“Wait, what?” Dresden leaned over the fence, trying to read the note. Regulus shoved the letter into his belt.

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