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He would do whatever it took to help her find a way out of this, even though he knew it was a foolish decision.

The next morning, Felicity approached Amber when she saw the other woman by herself for a moment.

“Can we talk for a moment?” she asked.

“Of course,” Amber frowned. “Is everything all right?”

“I hope so. Can we take a turn around the room.”

“Of course.”

Amber followed her around the edge of the room, staying close enough that their conversations would be as private as it could be given their location.

“Was there something you wanted to talk about?” Amber asked after a moment.

“There is, but I don’t know how to bring it up,” she sighed.

“That sounds ominous!”

“It’s nothing like that. You don’t need to worry.”

“Then perhaps it would be best simply to say whatever it is. Blunt is better than unspoken.”

“I suppose that is a good point.” Felicity hesitated a moment more. “Does it bother you how my brother speaks to you? I can ask him to tone it down if you need me to.”

Amber smiled. “Thank you, it’s incredibly kind of you to offer, but you don’t need to.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. It has actually been rather nice.”

“Nice?!” Felicity studied her with a strange look on her face. “Are you saying you have been enjoying the… banter between the two of you?”

“I know it might sound strange, but it’s true. It can be rather fun.”

A slow grin began to spread across Felicity’s face. “I must admit, I’m rather glad to hear that. My brother, he doesn’t make friends easily.”

“I don’t know that he would call us friends.”

“Why would you think that? I’ve seen him with you,” Felicity said as though that explained everything.

“Yes, you have. That is part of why I am so confused.”

Amber expected an explanation, but Felicity just laughed.

When it became clear she wasn’t going to say more, Amber spoke again. “As I said, you have seen him with me.”

“Yes, I have, and I have never seen him so relaxed with anyone before.”

“Relaxed? With me?”

“Yes, like I said, I’ve never seen it before, at least, not with a lady. Don’t tell him I told you this, but he’s always vowed never to get close to a woman.”

“Yes, he mentioned something about that once or twice, but he would never tell me or even hint at why.”

“I’m not surprised; technically, he’s never even told me why.”

“But you do know?” Amber asked, trying to keep the curiosity out of her voice.