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Once outside, I find Eryx right near the front drive. What’s more, he’s not wearing one of his old outfits. He has on a black coat over a blue vest. Tailored black pants and boots polished to a shine. His hair is slicked back, keeping out of his brown eyes. He doesn’t wear gloves or a cravat, but everything else looks incredible on him. Most adorable of all, he fidgets in place, as though nervous.

“You—you dressed up,” I say.

He startles at the sound of my voice, but at least he doesn’t draw his gun. “You seemed to like it the last time.”

“I did. I do. You look very nice.”

“You look beautiful.” His cheeks heat, and so do mine, and why is everything so strange?

“Shall we?” he asks, extending his arm. I take it with my uninjured one.

We start for the property’s natural lake in silence. It isn’t awkward, exactly, but neither is it relaxed.

We pass by Nico hanging upside down in a tree by his knees. He waves at me with one hand, while the other tries to hold up his shirt from the effect gravity is having on it.

I smile and wave back.

“He’s a handsome child,” Eryx comments. “Curious at times, though. I distinctly heard him mutter the wordimpostorlast time I walked by.”

I turn my snicker into a cough. “He’s learning new words rapidly. He likes to test them out whenever he can. Nico also has an endless curiosity about the world and how things work or what things are called. He likes words and answers to tough questions.”

“You care for him?”

“Of course. How can you not?”

“Perhaps we ought to hire a tutor for him, then. Help him on his way to a brighter future.”

I stop in my tracks, and Eryx is forced to follow suit. “Do you mean that?”

“Of course.”

Two words and I feel tingly all over, like he’s woven some sort of spell on me. How does he keep endearing himself to me? I don’t like it.

The lake comes into view, vast with trees lining the edges. I believe the late duke had fish brought in for sporting some years ago, but no one has used the place in quite some time. It’s beautifully overgrown with cattails and various reeds and tall grasses. Ripples form on the surface, little fishes coming up for bugs.

When we reach the dock, I ask, “Are you isolating me in a boat so I cannot run?”

“You might want to after you hear everything I have to say, but no. I just thought it might be a nice location for an outing. You seem to be outdoors quite a lot, and I have not had a chance to enjoy the lake yet.”

What a… thoughtful observation. Curse him.

A single rowboat is tied off at the end of the dock. A few leaves and twigs have fallen into the base, and Eryx releases me to reach down and scoop them out.

“After you,” he says when done.

He helps me into the boat, which sways a little as I take my seat at the back, facing forward. Eryx takes the other bench, where the oars rest.

“Oh, um, should I call for a footman to take us out?” I ask. “I didn’t even think about—”

“I can row, Chrysantha. I’m not scared off by such labor.”

“I’m not scared of labor.”

“Ah, so you’ve done some, then? Please, do tell.” He uses one oar to turn the boat, until his back is to the lake; then he takes us out.

I rack my brain for one single instance of labor I’ve performed, yet nothing comes to my mind. I pout. “I said I wasn’t scared of it, not that I had done any before.”

He smiles, watching me as he rows.