Page 17 of Legacy of Thorns
Daphne groaned. “I’m leaving. Immediately. Maybe I can slip away without him noticing.”
From his expression, Finley wanted to protest. But she held his gaze, her own full of accusation, and he looked away.
“I can distract him while you sneak past, if you like,” he offered.
Daphne rolled her eyes but didn’t reject the offer outright. It would be easier for everyone if she succeeded in getting away unnoticed.
But she’d hesitated too long. Archer turned back to her, his eyes shining.
“Have you already met Morrow and Nisha, Daphne? Did you travel here with them? Thank you for coming to rescue me. Notthat I’m surprised,” he hastened to add. “I can already see that you’re full of compassion and goodness.”
Daphne managed a weak smile. “I’m glad you’re awake, but I really do have to be going. Right now.”
“But how will you get back to Ethelson, Daphne?” Morrow asked, his brow creased with concern. “Surely you won’t walk back on your own? Do you have enough coin to book a seat on the coach?”
“Did you come from Ethelson?” Archer asked. “Of course you can’t go back all that way on your own! Anything might happen to you!”
“Anything already did,” Daphne said caustically, throwing a sidelong glance at Finley. “But it’s still a good point.” She turned to face Finley fully. “I think you at least owe me coach fare back to Ethelson. Don’t you?”
He had the grace to look shamefaced before her single raised eyebrow.
“I’m sure I owe you far more than that,” he said softly. “Won’t you allow me to escort you back? I’d feel better if I knew you made it back to Lorne’s house safely.”
“Unfortunately for you, I’m not in the least interested in making you feel better,” Daphne said coolly. “I’ll take the coach fare and be on my way.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Archer’s voice caught her attention, his words sounding more like a reluctant confession than a lovesick plea.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Did you all walk here together from Ethelson?” Archer asked, looking from Daphne to the others. “You brought her from there to rescue me?”
Morrow nodded. “Her cousin is a princess.”
Archer’s eyes lit up at the supposed confirmation of Daphne’s high status. She sighed, but she also didn’t turn and leave.Something in Archer’s manner had her on edge, and after ignoring her instincts before, she wasn’t going to do so again in a fit of pique.
“If you came together, people must have seen you.” Archer met Finley’s eyes. “They’ll think she’s one of us.”
Finley’s brows snapped together. “Do you mean they’re here? In this area? I think you’d better tell us how you came to prick your finger, Archie. Right now.”
Archer bit his lip. “Maybe Nisha should come inside first. And lock the door behind her.”
Finley’s face hardened even further, but he didn’t protest. Daphne watched nervously as Nisha promptly obeyed, removing the lock from the outside of the stable door and using it to secure them inside instead.
“Why is that necessary?” Daphne asked.
Archer hurried over and took one of her hands in both of his. “I’m so sorry we’ve dragged you into our troubles, Daphne. But I won’t let anyone harm you. I swear it.”
Daphne pulled her hand free and stepped back, looking from him to Finley. “Why don’t you start by telling me who would want to harm me?”
“Are they really here, Archie?” Finley asked sharply.
Archer nodded. “I didn’t notice them at first, unfortunately. I was too busy ferrying all the looms out to Morrow and Nisha to pay full attention to my surroundings.” He looked at Daphne. “I always insist they stay outside in case I get caught. I’m much better at charming my way out of trouble than either of them.”
The charming grin he flashed at her was an exact match for Finley’s, except his jaw hadn’t quite reached the full definition of his older brother’s. The effect was still devastating in an entirely different way, however—making her heart melt rather than flutter. She could well imagine an adult letting the charming lad go with a stern warning.
“So I was taking the looms out to them,” he resumed, but Finley cut him off.
“Did you really have to get involved, Archie? You know what Lord Castlerey is like. He would have returned the looms eventually—once the latest grandchild turns sixteen without incident.”
