Page 16 of Only in Moonlight
“It’s been a long journey,” I said. “Nin, draw her a bath, please. I’ll be up shortly.”
Nin ushered Emmeline upstairs, chattering away happily. I watched them go, worry settling in my gut like a heavy meal. This would be the first test of our cover story, as Nin would definitely ask Emmeline how we’d met. If Emmeline couldn’t play her part convincingly…
It wouldn’t be a disaster. Nin had worked for me for over a decade, and she was very discreet. She wouldn’t go racing to the city guards if my latest lady love acted a little strange.
Of course, if Emmeline had second thoughts about our deal and jumped out a window to escape…
No, she wanted that reward money, and she feared me too much to betray me yet.
I strode out the front door and headed into the trees. I could worry about Emmeline later. Right now, I needed to find out if someone had snuck onto my property. (And I could monitor the bathroom window from out here.)
The trees provided privacy, hiding the manor from view even if someone could look over the surrounding wall. They also muffled the sounds of the surrounding city. They weren’t numerous enough to count as woods, much less a forest, but they provided a vexing amount of potential hiding places for an intruder.
But I knew their layout and searched meticulously, listening for footsteps as I moved from tree to tree. I startled a winged rabbit that hopped into the air and shot over the wall but found nothing larger. Had my instincts been wrong?
Returning to the spot where I’d seen movement, I studied the ground. A cluster of glowing blue flowers provided just enough light to make out an impression on the ground.
Those weren’t rabbit tracks. Someone much larger had stood here. But whoever they were, they’d gone.
Chapter 9
Valen
Isearched the chateau from top to bottom, but no one had broken in. A spy doing reconnaissance, then. Or perhaps a burglar, but my return had scared them off before they could sneak inside. It couldn’t be an assassin—they would have already struck.
Emmeline’s voice from the bathroom cut off my train of thought. I couldn’t make out the words, but she sounded upset.
I hurried down the hall.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
The water had drained from the bathtub, only wet flower petals remaining inside, and candles flickered from an artful arrangement on the stone floor. Emmeline stood wrapped in a linen cloth, her hair wet. Nin looked unusually sheepish standing in front of her.
“I have nothing to wear,” Emmeline said through gritted teeth.
I shot Nin a questioning look.
“The state of her dress— I wouldn’t use it as a rag to wipe the floors.” Nin wrung her hands. “I didn’t realize she hadn’t packed a wardrobe.”
“So you…?”
“Burned it,” Nin finished helplessly.
Emmeline groaned and pulled the linen cloth more tightly around her body. The sight filled me with yearning and regret. When I’d chatted with her at the party in her guise as Lady Celestine, I’d wanted nothing more than to have her naked in my chateau. But I’d destroyed any chances of romancing her when I’d swooped down on my pegasus and chased her through the forest. She would abhor the cruel knight who’d coerced her into coming here.
Which was for the best. Even if we’d met under different circumstances, she would’ve learned my true nature eventually. Better to reveal it now before we grew close enough for it to hurt. Besides, we need a professional relationship for the heist, no romantic complications.
“Don’t worry, dearest.”
Emmeline clenched her jaw at my calling her “dearest.” We needed to discuss her acting skills.
“I planned to have the seamstress come tomorrow anyway,” I said. “I’m sure I have something lying around that you can wear in the meantime.”
I went to my chambers and rifled through a chest of drawers, finding a soft white chemise. I couldn’t remember who had left it here. Not Aurea. No, I’d returned all her belongings, unable to bear the sight of them.
“You’re not lending herthat?” Nin hissed, coming into the room behind me.
“It should fit her.”
