Page 27

Adelaide

A delaide squinted against the sunlight. She stared up at Castle Belmont and wrapped her arms around herself. Gavin hadn’t returned from his trip to the palace yet. Every minute dragged on and drove Adelaide closer and closer to the edge of madness.

All he’d offered her before he’d left was a lingering kiss that seemed more like an apology than a happy parting of ways.

Unable to sit still, Adelaide gave up on keeping her family company and had left Amber to her embroidery, her mother to her nap, and her father to a game of checkers with Ethan. That’s how Adelaide had found herself pacing in front of the bronze statue of the first Hughes to reside at Castle Belmont situated in the center of the estate’s front courtyard.

The bitter cold burned her nostrils. A brisk wind blew down from the mountain peaks in the distance, disturbing the valley they guarded. Every so often, Adelaide swore she saw a snowflake sparkle in the sunlight.

Rubbing the cold from her fingers, Adelaide turned back toward the castle. She couldn’t wait outside any longer. Even with her warm cloak, the cold had succeeded in slipping into her bones. There was no way of knowing how much longer Gavin would be.

Resigned, she mounted the steps. Reaching for the door handle, Adelaide cast one last look at the driveway, willing Gavin to appear on the horizon.

Adelaide’s breath caught in her throat. A lone figure appeared in the distance. She squinted. Her heartbeat quickened. As each passing second brought the figure closer, Adelaide made out a horse and rider. The rider’s cloak rippled behind them. Adelaide’s eyes widened as she realized the cloak flapping in the wind was navy blue.

Gavin.

Frozen in place, Adelaide held her breath, counting the seconds until she could make out his features. She knew the moment he saw her standing on the porch, for he sat up straighter and urged his horse into a gallop. Gravel flew into the air until Gavin finally came to a stop before the steps leading up into Castle Belmont. Desperately searching for any sign that would indicate how his meeting with the king went, she received no hint.

An attendant brushed past her. Adelaide bit the inside of her cheek. She shifted on her feet as she watched Gavin give his horse a pat and soothed his mane before handing the reins to the attendant. Not wasting a moment between the second the reins had passed from him to the attendant, Gavin bounded up the steps and finally smiled at her.

“Let’s go inside,” he said simply.

Adelaide nodded her head. Accepting Gavin’s arm, she battled against the questions assaulting her mind. Gavin clearly wanted to tell her once they were someplace warm, and Adelaide didn’t entirely mind that. What she did mind was the suspense bubbling up inside of her which made it difficult for her to breathe.

Luckily, Gavin didn’t bring her far. Leading her into the first room with a door he could close, Gavin turned to her and grinned.

She looked at him expectantly, her mouth too dry to speak. Did this mean what she thought it did? Had the king pardoned her?

As if reading her mind, Gavin nodded.

Air rushed back into Adelaide’s lungs. She threw her arms around Gavin, grateful that he’d caught her in her excitement.

Breaking apart, she gushed, “How? What did you say to him? What about Sir—”

“Can’t we just enjoy this moment?” Gavin asked, trailing his fingertips down her cheek.

Adelaide shivered, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Melting under his warm gaze, she nodded. “But you’ll tell me?”

“Later. Right now, I just want to be with you.”

Watching the flames, Adelaide let the steady rhythm of Gavin’s heartbeat consume her. The silence between them was filled with the crackle of the fire, the beating of their hearts, and all the thoughts she wasn’t able to squash.

But for one beautiful moment, it had all stopped. The tips of Adelaide’s ears burned remembering the searing kiss they’d shared. She hadn’t wanted it to end. She didn’t want this to end. Content just lying in his arms and breathing in the scent of him and relishing the softness of his shirt against her cheek, Adelaide began to wonder if it mattered what had happened with the king. All she knew for certain was that she was right where she wanted to be.

Gavin shifted beneath her. As he began to rub her back, Adelaide glanced up only to find him already watching her with soft eyes.

“So…what did he decide then?”

“That if no crime was committed, then no judgement was needed.”

“But—”

“We decided no one needed to know about your involvement. As far as any official report is concerned, you were never involved with Lady Alyton or her Den of Thieves.”

“So…I’ve been absolved of all crimes?”

“Yes.”

Adelaide let out a breath. She shouldn’t go looking for leaks in a ship when there weren’t any. Still, she asked, “And that’s legal?”

“Jameson is the king, and it was his idea, so I suppose it is. Why? Are you worried he’ll change his mind?”

Was she?

Adelaide curled her fingers against Gavin’s chest. Her mind couldn’t quite comprehend it all. “I’m not sure. I guess, just after all that’s happened, I thought…”

She trailed off, uncertain of what it was she still feared and what she hadn’t. All fears had come to pass, and neither she nor her family had suffered in its course.

Adelaide pushed herself up to hover over Gavin. “What does that mean for us?”

“I’m hoping,” Gavin said, stroking her arms, “it means you’ll stay.”

“I thought that was decided already,” Adelaide teased.

“I suppose it was.” Gavin kissed her softly, making her toes curl. He pulled away just enough to mumble against her lips. “Then it’s settled. Tomorrow, we’ll have breakfast and tour all of Castle Belmont’s grounds. It’s your home now too.”

“And what about today?” she asked breathlessly.

“Today, you’re mine.” His lips pulled into a mischievous smirk.

Adelaide smiled. Leaning in to press her lips against his once more, she said, “And every day after too.”