“We’ll see,” he said.
She rolled her eyes and let him read.
That night, Aria dressed in traveling attire and a thick woolen cloak, gathered what she needed into a satchel, and scribbled a note for the servants to find, where she claimed to have gone in search of Eliza.
I’ll return tonight with my sister in tow.
A bald-faced lie in every regard. Her father’s soldiers had actively scoured the ports and countryside, and she carried no delusions about discovering what they could not. Especially when she knew Eliza best. The girl could disappear if she wanted—she’d had plenty of training living as the spare princess, invisible to most. Aria’s longing pulled in two directions. She wanted Eliza to come home, but she also wanted her to be happy. Home could not provide that at the moment.
“Come with me,” she urged Jenny. “We could stop by Harper’s Glade before returning.”
Jenny licked her lips. “Will the ... will the crow ...”
The poor girl was still terrified from witnessing a shapeshifter, though Aria had assured her Corvin was not a threat. At least she’d agreed to keep the boy’s secret, which was more mercy than many people would have shown for a stranger.
“Someone should stay here.” Jenny looked down. “So the castle isn’t empty. In case.”
As if the girl could stand alone against Casters if Widow Morton decided to make another ploy in her game of torment. The thought added to Aria’s worry, but she was not going to force Jenny to travel against her will.
“If anything happens,” she said, “stay hidden.”
Aria left the castle and saddled her horse. A crystal night greeted her as she rode, sparkling with a full array of stars and not a cloud to conceal them. The moon offered the mischievous curve of its smile. Not a single guard stopped her on her way or shouted an alarm—they were all asleep beside their watch fires.
After exiting the gate, she looked back at the palace, slumbering beneath its curse. The descent of night always left her feeling trapped and hopeless, but tonight tasted like the crisp air of choice.
She leaned forward on her horse, rubbing the mare’s neck and whispering about an adventure. The beast’s ears pricked, and she danced a few steps on the road. Aria smiled.
“Hyah!” she said.
Together, they cantered into Sutton Town, each clap of hooves echoing in the empty streets. Approaching the inn, Aria saw a dappled gray stallion waiting patiently outside. It stepped forward at her approach, already bearing a rider.
But it wasn’t Silas.
It was a more familiar figure.
“Baron!” Aria couldn’t hide her smile, her heart galloping in her chest. “What are you doing here?”
As his mount pulled beside hers, she got a better look at him, at the soft shadows outlining his smile.
“Silas sent word you needed an escort. I thought the matter must be urgent, since he would never touch a messenger bird otherwise.”
She was glad the darkness concealed the blush in her cheeks.He’d read her letter; he must have. He’d come to escort her personally. Did that mean ... ?
You told him not to answer yet, she scolded herself.And he’s a gentleman, regardless of feelings.
“Though I don’t expect to meet other travelers in the darkest part of night,” Baron went on, “if we do happen upon any, and I’m called into question for breaking house arrest, I hope you might offer me a royal pardon.”
“Ensuring the safety of a princess pardons any lesser infraction,” she said. “So I’ll thank you for being my guard tonight. I can imagine no safer company.”
“This way, then.” He turned toward the southeastern road.
She blew out a breath, shoulders sagging. Then she shook herself back to reason and urged her horse forward to match his. Even without a direct answer to her confession, it was enough that he had come.
They rode in companionable silence, exiting the town.
“Now that I’ve met Silas,” she said, “I believe I have the full measure of your social circle. Family and friends both.”
“And how do you find it?”
