Page 19 of Kingdom of Chains

‘Will you come dance with me, sister?’ Everard asked, offering his hand.

Anything to free herself from Hodge. Of course, she needed his permission before leaving his side.

He nodded his consent, and Isabel fled the table, making her way into the middle of the room where other guests were already dancing. If anyone else had asked her, his hand would have tightened around hers, and she would have smiled and said to them, ‘That is such a kind offer, my lord, but I am afraid I am rather tired.’ And only when that person was far away would Hodge’s grip ease. Then after, she would return to her quarters, open the windows wide, and watch the sky, imagining all the sights Margery was seeing while flying free outside the walls.

Everard and Isabel were both terrible dancers. They only ever did it when they needed a laugh or a means to blow off steam. They were always a fraction out of time and forever stomping on each other’s toes, but it felt good to forget about everything else for a few minutes.

‘Ready for the fast part?’ Everard asked her when the music changed.

She was barely keeping up as it was. ‘Do not let me fall.’

‘I make no guarantees.’

Around and around they spun until they were out of breath and flushed from laughter. When the music stopped, she curtsied before him, almost falling in the process as the room continued to spin.

‘I feel like you have gotten worse,’ Everard shouted over the applause.

That made her laugh again.

As she caught her breath, Isabel’s gaze drifted to the defenders’ table. There was Blackmane, watching her. His stare was so penetrating that it halted her laughter.

‘May I have the next dance?’ Hodge asked, seemingly appearing from nowhere.

She flinched and quickly looked away. ‘Yes, of course.’ Saying no was not an option. Rejecting him in private was one thing. Rejecting him publicly was quite another.

Everard bowed to his sister before returning to their table. Hodge took hold of Isabel’s hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing it for an uncomfortable length of time. She could feel heat rushing to her cheeks, but not in a good way.

‘I was thinking,’ Hodge said when the music started and they stepped together, ‘that perhaps youshouldaccompany me to Carmarthenshire.’

Her eyebrows rose. She had not been expecting that. ‘Really?’

‘Hampstead Keep is not exactly a safe haven right now, and I would prefer not to be separated for a long period. You are quite right in your thinking that you are safest at my side.’

She never felt safe at his side—far from it. She was usually on edge, bracing for the moment his love warped into something he would be forced to apologise for later. But she did want to go to Carmarthenshire. Home was calling to her.

‘Can you take me to see Maddock House?’

He laughed. ‘To see a pile of rubble?’

‘Yes.’

He gave her a pitiful look. ‘Leave it with me.’

The song came to an end, and they stepped apart, applauding.

‘I suppose I should tell the defenders that you will be joining us,’ Hodge said. ‘I discovered earlier today that they are very fond of details.’

They had finished eating and were preparing to leave. Hodge took her by the hand and led her over to their table. ‘Commander Tatum.’

All four defenders looked in his direction, as though that name applied to all of them.

‘Yes?’ Tatum asked.

‘Might I have a word outside?’

The four men exchanged a look before heading for the exit. Isabel noticed that Blackmane appeared annoyed by the conversation before it had even begun.

‘I wanted to let you know that Lady Isabel will be joining us on the tour,’ Hodge announced when they were far enough from the door to hear.