I didn’t look back at Ashton, already feeling slightly bad enough for rejecting him. It was Eve’s fault, the little brat. I had a mouthful waiting for her. Garrett gently pulled me on the other side of the dance floor, away from Ashton’s gaze.
The music had already started, strings of violins and harps softly played in the background. Garrett turned to face me, his expression emotionless, as he wrapped his arm around me and gently held my other. He led me into the steps, as we gracefully made our way around the floor.
“Did I just save you back there?” Garrett asked. I peered up at him, his indigo blue eyes looking back down at me.
“I’m afraid you did,” I said.
Garrett bit the inside of his lip. “You looked like you wanted to run.”
I sighed. “More like disappear into a puddle.”
Garrett grinned. “I’m glad to be of service.” He twirled me twice and knelt on his knee, guiding me around him. When he stood up and settled me back in place, he asked, “What was he whispering about? You jumped back a little.”
“Oh, I… He was just inviting me to a picnic.”
Garrett furrowed his brows. “Is it custom around here for men to get on their knees to ask you that?” I shook my head, and Garrett grunted. “Then what did he want?”
“He wasn’t whispering anything horrible,” I retorted. I didn’t know why I was defending Lord Ashton, but Garrett could probably pound him in the ground if he wanted to. The man’s presence filled the room, demanding respect.
“Are you telling me that you like shameless things said to you, Avie?” Garrett jeered, a smile growing along the corner of his lips.
I slapped his arm lightly, feeling my cheeks flush under his teasing. “Stop.”
Garrett shrugged. “Some women like that.”
“Some women are major flirts as well,” I countered.
“Touché. But many women secretly like when—”
“Garrett Cranfield, if you don’t shut up, I’ll have Eve find you a perfect little lady that’ll nag you all night.”
He cringed under my fingers. “You win.”
∞∞∞
“George!” I scolded. Placing my hand on my heart, I scowled at him for jumping out of nowhere.
“I need to speak with you immediately,” he demanded.
“You just—” George took my arm and linked it underneath his. “What is this about?” I said quickly.
“Walk with me and smile. I don’t want anyone to think something is wrong,” he whispered with an edge in his voice. He led me to the balcony, where the scent of flowers faintly filled the air. The moon was full, showing small chairs and tables set out for guests. George quickly scanned the area, his body stiff, before turning around to face me.
“I just received word from John,” he started, wiping sweat off his brow with his arm.
“Garrett’s man?”
George looked around. “Yes. One of the men encountered a radical about an hour ago. Our man was almost killed. They know where we are.”
I swallowed. “Where we are?”
George looked at me, his eyes soft. “They have to know by now that I came for you.”
“Oh Femme Fatale.” My body began to shake, and I couldn’t tell if it was because of fear or that it was sinking in. Someone was here, in my hometown, trying to finish what they had started.
“Papa!” I warned.
“I already have some men there, outside the house. He doesn’t know they are there.”
“Can they be trusted?”
George nodded again. “They are Garrett’s men, so yes.”
“Wait, why are his men here?”
George took off his coat and hung it around my shoulders. “Since you’ve been home, Garr has had a special group of men here. They’ve settled in, looking over the town, to make sure you are kept safe. They report back to him every other week.”
My mind whirled. After all this time, even without his presence, he still made sure I was safe? He used his resources and trusted men to ensure my safety? I didn’t know how to comprehend that.
“Do I know any of them?” I asked.
“Mr. Torres is one.”
“Mr. Torres? My Mr. Torres?!” I furrowed my brows. “Why didn’t you tell me this?” I asked, but then recanted. “Because I would have said no, that I didn’t need anyone here.”
“Glad you see how stubborn you are after all these years, and what I’ve had to deal with. We need to get back to the castle.” He saw my mouth open, but continued, “I know you don’t want to go. I don’t want to take the life you’ve made for yourself. But you’re safer with me. Besides, we can spend some time together and be what we used to be.”
“What’s going on?” Garrett asked, walking quickly over to us.
“John said the rebels are here, in town. We have to move,” George explained.
“Where is he?”
“In the back. He’ll have a carriage waiting for us momentarily.”
“They’ll expect us to leave tonight,” Garrett replied to no one in particular.
“We have to,” George insisted.
“Travelling at night, number one, isn’t something I prefer to do,” he clipped. “Secondly, I don’t know how many men they have here. I need more information before we make a move.”
George huffed, but didn’t press any further. “I will check to see if John has things organized.”
Garrett pulled a dagger from the inside of his coat and handed it to him. “Don’t miss.”
George took it and proceed down the balcony steps. I watched him disappear, pulling his brown coat closer around me.
“We’ll get you warm soon,” Garrett promised, stepping closer to me.
“It’s fine,” I interjected. The man thought of everything; if I was cold, if I was safe, if there were people watching Papa and I. Looking at him, he showed no signs of worry. His face was mellow, like how it’d been when we danced. A man bearing the safety of the crown and my predicament on those strong shoulders.
“We’ll get you home in no time.”
“Thank you,” I replied genuinely. “For everything.”
He looked at me with a raised brow. “For what?”
“Let’s go,” George called.
Perfect timing, as usual.
Ava
Chapter 7
I’d spent the last two days on the back of my horse, not able to feel my bottom. George made sure we took a break every three hours, so I could stretch my legs and get off Onyx. The weather had been warm but chilly at night. I tried to enjoy the new scenery, but I worried about Papa. Garrett said that he would have men there looking over him, which gave me a little relief.
The nights were my favorite. I gazed out at the sky, from my sleeping mat, looking for constellations that Sam and I would find together. But sleep was something I didn’t get much of. With these radicals coming to Bampshire, it showed that they were relentless. I felt like it was a warning for George that they hadn’t forgotten about me, and that angered me.
Being a woman, I’d use it to my advantage. They almost killed me once, but I wasn’t the same girl I’d been four years ago. It was eye-opening. Cowering and submitting defeat wasn’t in my nature, and George needed my help. If we worked together, the sooner this may end. And being together, to look out for the other, would put us both at ease.
On our third day, we passed a little town that I couldn’t remember the name of. We rode through a grassy field, the sky overcast with dark gray clouds, as I studied the scenery. A patch of woods was to one side, while rolling green hills dotted with flowers peeked in the distance. It wasn’t until I heard Garrett order all to halt that I came back from my trance. He motioned for one of his men to come forward and spoke quietly to him. The man took off in haste ahead of us, and George rode to my side.
“Ever been to this town before?” George asked, clenching his jaw.
“Not that I remember,” I replied quietly, as Garrett’s men circled us. They were positioning for an attack; I recognized the stance from the soldiers at the orphanage. “George, something is wrong.”
He looked at me, taking a deep breath. “I think so.”
“They followed us, didn’t they?”
“Yes.”
Adrenaline rushed through every inch of my body. A horse, an empty field, and a few men; the scene was too familiar.
“Garr thinks the rebels may be staying in this town. One of his men thinks he recognized one of them. If one does live here, the others might have set up camp here somewhere.”