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“What do you say you and I and some of our friends take a walk in Sherwood Forest tonight?”

Garrick pursed his lips. “‘And some of our friends?’ How about just you and I?” He leaned toward her. Grace felt the pull but resisted.

“I’m serious. I have something to show all of you.”

“Now you’ve got me curious.”

He reached out, grabbing a piece of her hair, and plucked a bit of wheat from it.

“Is that a yes?”

He smiled, leaning in again. “Yes,” he said before kissing her. Grace returned the kiss, breathing in that smell of nutmeg and relishing the tingling that spread through her. They both pulled back. “And then just you and I walk in the forest,” he said.

Grace laughed, her heart happy. “I don’t know,” she teased. “I don’t think I’d like a walk in the forest with just you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Need more convincing?”

Grace scurried to her feet as he leaned toward her. “I mean,” she said, “I haven’t received a letter from you in… oh, three weeks now?”

“A letter. That’s what you want, a letter?” He leapt up and chased after her. Squealing in delight, she danced around, trying to escape him.

He caught her and wrapped her in a hug, swaying slowly, her head on his chest. After a time, she muttered, “You got your dance, where’s my letter?”

He sighed in thought. “You want a letter, huh… Let’s see.” He gently shifted her so she could look up at him.

She blinked her eyes coyly, waiting for his teasing response.

“Dear… Protector of Fidara.” His face grew serious. “I love you.”

Her smile came fast and unbidden.

She gazed up at this man whom she’d hadn’t really seen for so many years, and her heart soared. Here was someone she could laugh with, talk with, and fight beside, masked or not. Whatever came next with the Zerudorn gold, they’d meet it together. “I love you too,” she said.

“Ahem, that wasn’t in letter form.”

She laughed and pulled him into a kiss.