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Adelaide

A delaide fought to keep herself from trembling. Her eyes stung. Everything in her begged her to run, to expel the energy bubbling up inside of her. But she stood firm against the nerves that waged war over her mind.

She couldn’t do as Mistress Scrabs had ordered. Archduke Gavin Hughes wouldn’t be swayed by a mere commoner—a thief—so easily. And Adelaide couldn’t stomach the idea of deceiving someone like that. Petty theft was something she could forgive herself for with time. But making someone fall in love with her?

She would never forgive herself for that, and frankly, she had more self-respect than that. She couldn’t—she wouldn’t —bend her will to go against her own heart.

Adelaide steeled herself against the question she was about to ask—and hoped it was enough to protect her from the archduke’s answer.

“Does that mean you would care for them even if they’d betrayed you?”

Adelaide held her breath. She didn’t dare look at Archduke Hughes. She forced her hands to remain still and set them on her aching knees.

She had the archduke’s undivided attention. From the moment she’d stepped into his office, he’d been studying her.

Archduke Gavin Hughes had lived up to his reputation in that one respect. He was indeed fiercely protective, just as he was kind instead of cold, and attentive instead of indifferent. He’d proven that last night, and just now with his promise to take care of those he considered under his banner.

“In what way,” he started, his voice oddly calm, “do you feel you’ve betrayed me, Adelaide?”

Adelaide shut her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see the archduke’s reaction. She couldn’t keep her silence any longer. “I was asked to steal from your estate…and from you.”

“By who?”

Adelaide shook her head. How had she convinced herself that she could remain unscathed even after she told the truth?

“Adelaide.” Fabric rustled. Adelaide opened her eyes and watched apprehensively as the archduke walked around the coffee table to sit beside her. He laid his warm hand over top of hers. She savored the warmth even if she didn’t believe any comfort would come of the contact. “Who hurt you? Was it the person who asked you to steal from me?”

She swallowed. “Yes, Yo—”

“Gavin,” he interrupted. “Please call me by my name. I can’t stand titles.”

Adelaide blinked, slowly lifting her gaze to find the archduke’s intense blue eyes on her. She nodded against her will, lost in the landscape of his eyes and the open concern masking the controlled rage of his features.

“If I tell you,” she said slowly, “can I help bring them to justice?”

Gavin raised his brow. “Surely your testimony would be enough?”

“I’m afraid it’s much more complicated than that. They’re very…powerful,” she explained. She fought to force the memory of what happened earlier this morning from her mind. She couldn’t let that consume her once again. Adelaide needed to focus, and the way Gavin Hughes was looking at her didn’t help her mind clear.

She didn’t know someone could look at another person in that way, with such softness and undivided attention. It made her breath catch, wondering if she was all he saw. His gaze made her feel like the only thing left in the world. Adelaide had never imagined that someone would look at her with such compassion. She was a thief. She didn’t deserve such courtesy.

“No matter what,” Gavin said, an edge to his voice, “I doubt they’re more powerful than me. They will be brought to justice.”

“I hope you’re right,” Adelaide murmured. “The Master of Thieves has spent years collecting magical artifacts, Your—Gavin. Her magic is…quite volatile.”

Gavin’s jaw twitched. He stood abruptly from the couch. A cold draft settled over Adelaide’s hand.

She watched helplessly as Gavin began to pace the length of the seating area’s carpet.

“We’ll need to proceed carefully,” Gavin said, “and…” He froze, motion and speech abandoned by some unknown realization. Turning to face her, Gavin’s features had softened. Adelaide marveled at how quickly he’d gone from deep in thought to concerned again. “Adelaide, would you be uncomfortable if I included William in this matter?”

“I…” Adelaide wracked her brain, sorting through her feelings. She didn’t fully understand what had prompted her to share her plight with the archduke, but she trusted him. Did she trust Sir Maxwell too? Adelaide knew the more people involved in her predicament, the more likely it was that Mistress Scrabs would discover her betrayal.

But Sir Maxwell was Gavin’s second-in-command.

“I would appreciate Sir Maxwell’s help.”

“We don’t have to include William if you’re not ful—”

“No, I want to. Mistress Scrabs and her Den of Thieves has a lot of influence over Kordouva.”

Gavin nodded. “Let me call William into this meeting. Would you like lunch, Adelaide? I fear we might be here for a while.”

Lunch?

Adelaide pressed a hand to her empty stomach. She didn’t know whether or not she could accept such an invitation, though she was tempted. Adelaide pressed her lips together.

Still, she had yet to see to her assigned duties within Castle Belmont.

“No, thank you,” she sighed. Disappointment plagued her mind. Surely the archduke understood her position. “I really must get to work, Your Grace.”

The archduke froze. His hand hovered over the window lock. Adelaide arched her brow curiously as Gavin turned to look at her, his lips drawn in a slight frown.

“Adelaide,” he started, his voice thick with confusion, “I’m sorry if I didn’t make this clear, but you are no longer a maid in this household.”

Adelaide’s stomach dropped.

The archduke returned to his task at the window without any further explanation. Adelaide’s eyes welled with tears. She ducked her head and tried to blink them away.

The creak of the window’s hinges grabbed her attention. Watching the archduke through her lashes, Adelaide didn’t understand what he was doing as he reached a hand out the window until sparks of magic erupted from his palm. They carried on the breeze. Gavin didn’t waste a moment between the last of the magical trail getting swept away and latching the window once more.

“There,” he said, turning back to her. Adelaide turned her head to the side. She didn’t want him to see how upset and panicked she was. “That should get William’s attention. Now, let’s finish our discussion.”

The cushion beside her dipped under Gavin’s weight. Adelaide’s hand clenched around her knee. She didn’t dare look at him.

“Adelaide, please understand that I’m not firing you,” he explained. “In truth, you were only hired because I’d hoped to attract Mistress Scrabs’s attention with the advertisement. I’d already suspected you were lying to us, though had hoped I was wrong. Thomas knew your letter of recommendation from Lord Ventner was forged.”

“You knew?” Adelaide whispered. Shock struck her heart. She nearly flinched.

Gavin chuckled. Adelaide didn’t see what was so funny about her situation. “Not everything, but enough. Surely you’ve heard the rumors about me.”

Adelaide nodded, still unwilling to look at him.

“I meant what I said earlier.” Gavin’s warm hand slowly returned to hers. Adelaide didn’t pull away, instead allowing him to fully wrap his hand around hers. Adelaide took a moment to steel herself and faced him. “I’ll protect you, Adelaide. No matter what, Mistress Scrabs will not harm you again. I will not put you in a position where she has that opportunity ever again.”

Adelaide let his words soak into her mind for a moment. His eyes blazed with earnestness, the sort of expression that stole her breath and made her want to believe anything he could possibly tell her. But her gut wouldn’t let her. Unwavering trust wasn’t something she could give so freely. “Why?”

With his other hand, Gavin hesitantly cupped her cheek. Adelaide could’ve pulled away, and probably should’ve, but she didn’t. She found that she quite liked the gentleness of Gavin’s touches, the warmth of his hands, and the way he watched her so carefully as if he expected her to disappear.

“Do I need any other reason than not wanting to see you hurt again?”

“You hardly know me, Your Grace.”

Gavin frowned, obviously irked by the use of his title once more. “And what if I’d like to know you better?”

Adelaide’s heart buzzed. Why, she wanted to ask again. She swallowed. The question wouldn’t provide her with any decisive answer, so instead she said, “Forgive me, but most people have ulterior motives.” Slowly, she leaned away from him and carefully wrapped her fingers around his wrist to pull his hand away from her cheek. “Why would you care to know someone you already know to be a liar? I’ve already agreed to help you in your investigation, so please, there’s no need to…to pretend to care about me.”

“I’m not pretending. Though if you truly would rather I stop, I will,” Gavin started, his lips quirked in a small smirk. “But to do that, you’d have to let go of me as well.”

Adelaide glanced down at their hands. In some way or another, they held each other. Adelaide still hadn’t let go of his wrist, and Gavin hadn’t let go of her hand.

Her stomach fluttered, and Adelaide found she had no retort. She wished he hadn’t noticed.

Thinking about that day in the hallway when he’d caught her singing, the tips of Adelaide’s ears burned. She couldn’t explain why this instance brought the memory to mind, but it had. And now she had a careful decision to make, one she didn’t know what to do with.

Part of her wanted this, the comfort, the surety of Gavin Hughes. But another, more cynical part of herself knew it could never be. Whatever feelings stirred in her heart and whatever feelings Gavin thought he harbored toward her, Adelaide knew their relationship—however it was to be defined—was fragile.

A loud knock at the door saved her from having to respond.

Gavin sighed and dragged his hand away from hers. Adelaide let her hold on his wrist slip, savoring the lingering contact until her hand fell back to her lap. He didn’t move as he bade the person at the door to enter the office.

“You called for me, Ga—Adelaide?” Sir Maxwell entered the room swiftly, folders tucked under his arm. His eyes widened, seeing them both on the couch. His shock fled as he composed himself, quickly taking a seat across from them. He kept the folders on his lap, holding them protectively—or to keep them from sliding. Adelaide wasn’t positive. Adelaide stared at the edge of the coffee table between them, forcing her mind to organize her thoughts as she’d no doubt have to repeat everything she’d told Gavin.

“Yes,” Gavin answered calmly. “I asked you here because Adelaide can help in our investigation.”

A shock of ice flooded Adelaide’s heart.

Investigation?

Mistress Scrabs’s command from earlier that morning flitted through the forefront of her mind. An overwhelming sense of understanding washed over Adelaide, followed by a stab of fear.

Had she played right into Mistress Scrabs’s plans by confessing her crimes and asking the White Hawk of Kordouva for help?

Dread wormed its way into Adelaide’s veins as she met Sir Maxwell’s eyes.

“Oh, really?” Sir Maxwell asked, his gaze fixed squarely on her. Adelaide suppressed a shudder under the intensity of his scrutiny. “Pray tell His Grace hasn’t coerced you into aiding us, Adelaide?”

Beside her, Gavin scoffed.

“He hasn’t, Sir. In fact, I’ve deceived all of you,” Adelaide confessed. “But I’d like to make it right, if possible.”

Sir Maxwell laughed and set the pile of folders on the table. “All right. I’m listening.”

Adelaide reiterated to Sir Maxwell everything she’d told Gavin. Every so often, the pair interrupted her account with a question, and then came the hardest part of all.

“How did you become one of Mistress Scrabs’s agents?” Sir Maxwell asked.

Adelaide studied her clasped hands. “I fear answering that would only incriminate me further. I can say, however, that it was a mistake that I have regretted every day since.”

Gavin’s knee touched hers. Softly, he asked, “Is it related to your mother’s illness?”

Adelaide let out a slow breath. Her shoulders tensed. She couldn’t lie anymore. Lying had only brought her more pain and guilt than she could bear. “Yes.” Taking a breath, she explained, “As I’ve said before, my mother is very sick. My family became desperate for a cure or some sort of treatment to ease her pain, but there were none. My father had spent so much money on doctors and herbalists and mages that we were near penniless. My mother begged him to stop, to remember his responsibilities to my siblings and to me, but it was too late.

“So my brother became an apprentice to a blacksmith and I…work was hard to come by for me. I resorted to pickpocketing in the city for money to pay off our debts.” Adelaide went quiet, letting her words sink in for a moment. Quietly, she added, “It was the last time I pickpocketed that Mistress Scrabs caught me in her clutches.”