Page 32 of Gilded Locks

Grace giggled. “I think you stepped on every branch and leaf in the forest on your way here. And your shoes sounded like sandpaper scrambling against that tree you fell out of.” She reached the tree. He stood only half a foot away. She just had to time her grab for the mask.

He retreated several steps from her and crossed his arms. “You heard me climb? You were here.Youwere hiding.”

Grace waved a hand at the accusation in his tone, masking her annoyance with apathy. She’d been so close! “Well, of course.” She decided to change tactics. She reached over, plucked the envelope from the tree nook, and waved it in front of her. “I like to know who I’m writing to.” She began her approach a second time. “But I couldn’t find your name anywhere on that letter of yours. How’s a lady supposed to know how to address a letter when admirers insist on staying anonymous?”

“Admirer, huh? You thought I was writing you a love note?” The way he said it, Grace knew he was smirking.

Grace kept herself aloof, but she could feel her heart start to thump unevenly. Heavens, it was nice for a man to show some confidence toward her again. “You weren’t? Well then…” She started to tuck the letter away, but the Rogue closed the distance between them so he could grab her arm.

Grace took a stuttering breath, the warmth of his sudden closeness making the night feel colder. The aroma of nutmeg hung in the air around him.

“I believe that letter is for me. I ought to have the chance to read it.”

This close, she saw the movement of the cloth with his breaths.

Grace let him pull her arm, a tingle spreading from his touch. He took the letter from her.

For a moment, Grace saw herself in the daydreams. Her cloak was deep green and shimmered in and out of sight. The man in front of her was an ally, a friend, and so much more. He would remove his mask, she’d wink at him, and Jonathan would laugh.

With a sharp intake, Grace stepped away from the still-masked Rogue, and her arm slipped from his hand. It burned cold where he’d touched her.

He backed away from her, and Grace cursed herself for missing the chance to go for his mask.

“It must be an amorous love letter, to inspire such chagrin.” He examined the envelope.

Grace smiled even as her heart constricted, letting dreams of the past fade. This wasn’t Jonathan. Beyond the lack of stealth, something about the way the Rogue moved seemed foreign to Grace. From what she could tell in the shadows, his skin was a shade too fair, and he was a bit too tall, as well.

“The letter definitely reveals what’s in my heart,” Grace said.

James was about this height, and the Rogue looked broad shouldered, though the cloak made it difficult to tell. Maybe this rebel persona truly was the secret James kept from her. Maybe… she might not have to be alone.

“Maybe” wasn’t good enough. She wanted to know.

“Well then, I look forward to reading it.” He took a step to her left just as maple leaves shifted above, and a small stream of moonlight slipped through. Green eyes stared at her from behind that mask. Grace’s heart thudded. Those eyes. She was entranced.

The Rogue took another sidestep, out of the light. “You know where to find my response,” he said. Grace thought he might reach for her again, but instead he turned to leave.

“Wait,” Grace said. He couldn’t leave. She hadn’t even started trying to convince him to stop running around in that cloak.

The Rogue looked back at her.

“It’s not safe,” she said. “Doing this. For anyone. The town… it can’t handle another failed Rogue.”

He sighed. “Then I guess I can’t fail.”

“Why are you hiding your identity from me?”

“Removing the mask won’t be good for my health.”

“That’s not true. I could have told the sheriff already, brought him here to catch you, but I didn’t.”

The man snorted. “I know you, Grace Robbins. You’ll never trust a Clairmont.”

“You’re right. But that’s my point. I wouldn’t turn on you. I’ll help you. Help you resist in a way that won’t get you killed or bleed the town of the little hope it still has.”

Her words, rather than encouraging him, seemed to sadden him. He turned away from her. “Look for a letter tomorrow.”

He clomped out of the forest. Grace winced, listening to him go.

---