Page 52 of A Curse of Hope and Shadows: Part I
“Oh, a little domestic accident. It’s nothing.”
“Right.”
Adeline’s palm itched, and she wondered if Mrs Minton recognised the handkerchief.
“You took him out, yesterday.”
“Is that not allowed? I didn’t think to—”
“His Lordship is free to go wherever he desires,” Mrs Minton said sharply. “He just never does.”
“I think he enjoyed himself.”
“I think he did, too. He was lighter when he came home. He usually dreads the full moon, but last night… he was better.” She sighed. “Don’t let him turn you out again. Promise me. Lie to him, if you have to. But stay.”
Adeline swallowed. She did not want to lie to him, but at the same time, she did not think she was capable of leaving him alone. “I’ll stay,” she told Mrs Minton, for that promise seemed easier to make.
“Good,” the housekeeper replied. “I won’t send someone up for the tray. Just bring it down when you’re ready.”
“Yes, Mrs Minton.”
The door closed softly behind her.
Adeline read to herself while waiting for Dimitri to wake up, picking a little at his food. After a while, he shuffled in the sheets. “Are you stealing my food?” he asked, good eye blinking.
“Why not? You seldom eat it.”
“Well, I will today! Bring it over, I’m famished.”
Adeline propped the tray up on his bed and watched with some satisfaction as he tore into it. She collected a slice of cake from her basket at the side and added that to his plate.
“A gift from home.”
Dimitri eyed it. “Didyoubake the cake?”
“Thankfully, no. Elliott’s the baker.”
Dimitri bit into it, good eye rolling back as he released a moan of satisfaction. “Oh my. He’s really good.”
“He really is.” She brought his post over to his bed.
“Anything interesting?” he asked, swallowing another bite of cake.
“How would I know?”
“Look through it.”
She described the various seals of them, but the last one needed no such description: a crowned lion.
She gasped. “You have a letter bearing the royal seal.”
“Oh, that’s probably Alexei. Would you mind reading it to me?”
“Alexei?” Adeline froze. “As in… Prince Alexei? You want me to read a letter from theCrown Prince?”
“Are you gushing over my cousin?”
“It’s just so…royal!”
