Page 20 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Chapter 7

THE NEXT MORNING ADELAIDEskipped down the stairs to breakfast, wishing she could have asked Regulus Hargreaves about his time in Khastalland. Did he know any Khast? She’d have to ask him the next time she saw him. As she careened around the corner into the landing to the second floor, she nearly collided with Baroness Carrick. Baron Carrick and Sir Nolan stood just behind the baroness, Nolan with an amused expression.

“Oh, pardon me, my lady!” Adelaide curtsied as her pulse spiked and a string of Khast curses went through her head. I forgot.She smoothed her lavender-gray skirt and took another step back, hoping she hadn’t offended them. If she’d remembered, she wouldn’t have worn a sleeveless dress with a low neckline and would have done something with her hair beyond brushing it. She’d been thinking of going riding in the summer sun, not looking proper in front of a baronial family. “I apologize; I should have been paying more attention.”

Baroness Carrick’s eyebrows lifted. “Ah, well.” Her face relaxed into a small smile. “No harm done.”

The baron looked at her appraisingly. “It’s good to see a young lady with both beauty and energy. You must have many suitors.”

Her cheeks burned. “N-no.” She fiddled with her hands.Why couldn’t Minerva be here? She’s so much smoother with the nobles.

“Shall we continue to breakfast?” Baroness Carrick took her husband’s arm and headed downstairs.

Nolan’s gaze swept over Adelaide and she combed her fingers through her hair. “You have a unique sense of style, Lady Adelaide.”

“Khastallander based—that is, its pattern...my mother.”Stop stammering.“My mother taught me to sew using Khastallander patterns.”

“Well, you look lovely.” Nolan chuckled. The grin on his face suggested he thought her stammering indicated his attentions pleasantly flustered her. If anything, she felt the opposite. He offered her his arm. She didn’t want to accept, but she wouldn’t be impolite to her hosts’ guest and a baron’s son.

They followed his parents. A servant directed them to the smaller dining hall, used for the Drummond family’s private meals. Lord and Lady Drummond and Mother were already in the hall, but not yet seated. Gaius and Minerva entered after them. Once the baron and baroness had taken their seats, Lord and Lady Drummond sat down. Nolan pulled out a chair for Adelaide and sat next to her.Grand.

Lord Drummond, Baron Carrick, and Gaius jumped into a discussion about rumors of goblins spotted at the distant Vanelt-Monparth border. Lady Drummond pulled Mother, Minerva, and the baroness into discussing newborns while servants carried in trays of place settings and delicious-smelling food.

“I had hoped to speak more with you last night, but you always seemed to be otherwise engaged,” Nolan said quietly. “I must have seemed a cad for interrupting your conversation with Lord Hargreaves and didn’t want to repeat my offense. But I assure you, I acted out of concern.”

Adelaide watched a maid pour water into her goblet. “Sir Carrick—”

“Nolan, please. I much prefer it.” He gave her a saccharine smile.

“Sir Nolan,” she amended, hoping this compromise would keep him distant but placated, “has Lord Hargreaves done something to offend you?”

“Other than claiming a title he doesn’t deserve and running innocent, noble ladies out of Monparth—assuming they are even still alive—no, I suppose not.” He turned toward her as he piled eggs and roast duck on his plate. His knee bumped hers under the table and she twisted her legs away. “But I wish to talk about you, Adelaide.” His voice dipped as he spoke her name, becoming low and husky.

She gulped down water. “There isn’t much to me.”Not much I can or want to tell you, anyway.She spread jam over a piece of toast, wishing Minerva wasn’t focused on Baroness Carrick.

“Oh, that seems unlikely.” A touch at her shoulder startled her. Nolan trailed his fingertips down her arm with a sly grin.

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