“Allow me.” He set his hands on my shoulders, spun me about, and began to quickly open the elaborate sets of hooks and eyes that trailed their way down my back.
I tried my best to think of the impending rescue mission, however the situation was infinitely distracting. To begin with, Rowan’s bare fingers kept brushing my shoulders and spine. Also, I kept wondering how the man knew to undo these hooks so well. Most servants had trouble with them.
Rowan leaned in closer. His lips almost touched my ear. “I thought you’d never leave the Baroness.”
I couldn’t stop my smile. He’d been watching me. “The Vicomte told the Baroness to keep me close.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
“It could have been worse. The Baroness is making Amelia play Theodora.”
Rowan stopped undoing my corset for a moment. “Indeed.”
I glanced at him over my shoulder. His features were unreadable. “What was that? What do you know about my friend?”
His face stayed still as stone. How I hated it when he did that. “It’s nothing I can discuss.”
The muscles along my shoulders tightened to painful levels. I didn’t like the idea of Rowan keeping things from me. “You don’t have to be secretive. The Vicomte already told us about Amelia and Rex.”
“Ah. I see.” Rowan slowly pulled me against him. My almost bare back pressed against the firm planes of his chest. Bit by bit, his heavy arms looped around my waist.
I frowned. Rowan was never spontaneously cuddly or sentimental. The other times he’d held me, it was because I was in danger or obviously upset. “What’s wrong?”
“Not a thing.” Rowan leaned his cheek against my hair. “What you say is the truth. Both Rex and Amelia are creatures of state. They always knew they’d have a marriage of convenience, just not to each other. And Rex is a good man. You don’t need to worry about your friend.”
It still didn’t explain his odd behavior. “And what about you? Are you a good man?”
“I try to be.” His arms tightened. “I have a plan for us, Elea. Believe it.”
His reply wasn’t very comforting. I try to be? “What is this plan, exactly?”
“Nothing I can discuss now, sadly enough.” Rowan released me and undid the last of the hooks along my back. My layered skirts fell from my body. I stepped outside the pile of fabric. Now, I stood only in my undershift and pantalets. Rowan stepped around to face me. The lines of his rugged face were tight. Our moment of intimacy was over. We were warrior mages again.
I stepped up to the well and hoisted myself up to sit along the edge. My legs dangled into the growing darkness. I looked into inky black below me.
My people could be down there. Ada. Veronique. I need to save them.
Rowan looked down the throat of the well. “The surface here looks uneven.” Reaching forward, he brushed his palms across the inner stone. “There are good handholds, though. I can climb it. How about you?”
“Not to worry.” My old Cloister was set into the side of a mountain. In the summer months, I’d often scale up to the peak. Mother Superior said it was good exercise. I think she just wanted me to see the sun once in a while. I did nothing but study in those days.
Rowan inspected me carefully. “How long since you last climbed?”
“Months.” Actually, it was more than a year. Still, I didn’t like the worried look in Rowan’s eyes. I was going down this well, whether he liked it or not.
“I’ll go first, then,” he said.
“And why’s that?”
“Landing on an unknown floor in the dark? That can tricky in slippers and pantalets, unless you have help. Or do you want to use magick?”
“The spells I’d have to use would be too powerful. Any Fantome within a league of here would sense that kind of casting. I accept you offer of help.” And, if I were being honest with myself, I liked the idea of Rowan grabbing me in the dark.
“Agreed.” Rowan slipped into the well. For such a large man, his movements were smooth and graceful. He quickly disappeared into the darkness below.
I sat on the well’s edge, my legs swinging below me in a nervous rhythm. It seemed like hours ticked by as I waited for some word from Rowan. At last, his voice echoed up from the well. “Ready.”
I checked to ensure that Amelia’s watch was safely stowed in the pocket of my pantalets. Still there. There was nothing else to wait for. Taking a deep breath, I gripped the lip of the well and began the long climb down. One thought occupied my mind.
Please, let Ada be here.
Chapter Seventeen
The stones felt slimy under my fingertips as I slowly made my way down the darkened well. Fortunately, some of the mortar between the rocks had rotted away, so there were good holds for my hands and feet, even if I couldn’t see them clearly. The moonlight grew dimmer as I relaxed into a downward rhythm.
Left hand.
Right hand.
Left foot, right.
Stale air filled my lungs. Heavy shadows enveloped me. I gripped the wet stones more tightly. How far had I gone? Was the end of the well near?