Rayne.
Julia let out a shaking exhale.
Her heart became a deep well of love for the struggles of a war hero she’d never met, for Rayne, for Farring, for this place and all its inhabitants.
He’d been right again.
She more than liked this place—she respected the acceptance that governed the lives of the people who called this place home. Periwinkle Gate was more than met the eye.
And so was Rayne.
…
James snipped Rayne’s hair, the final step in an onslaught that had left every inch of Rayne’s person polished—teeth, to nails, to toes. Then, Rayne stood as still as possible as James tucked him into shirt, waistcoat, and trousers that looked and fit in suspiciously familiar ways.
Despite James’s evasions, Rayne strongly suspected Farring’s letter had come with a parcel of Rayne’s most expensive clothes, all updated so they reflected the latest fashions.
James stepped back, fussed with Rayne’s cravat a fourth time, and then proceeded to dust and polish his person yet again.
“James. The residents of Periwinkle Gate don’tcare.”
“Ah,” James said regally, “but we aren’t concerned with the residents of Periwinkle Gate, are we? You already have the approval of the court.Wehave aladyto impress.”
Rayne sighed. “She’s not the kind of lady who will swoon over a cravat.”
“Well, perhaps not a frothy little white one, butthisstunning black silk? Withyourhair and eyes?” He fluttered his lids. “If she doesn’t notice, I’ll have to find her a lorgnette.”
Rayne inclined his head. “She’llnotice. She’s just not likely to soften.”
“Do we want soft?” James pursed his lips. “We, if you must know, have been aiming forstimulated.”
That, Rayne had managed without any clothes at all. “Very well, my liege, do what you must.”
“The transfiguration is near complete.” James went to the dresser, opened a box, and pulled out a pin that glinted with a single diamond. “Just one more thing.”
“Ah…” Rayne’s eyes fixed to the jewel he had once worn daily but hadn’t seen since he’d left Britain—a symbol of the worst within him. “No.”
“But it goes perfectly with the—”
“I’m not a diamond, King.” He wasn’t even part of the card suit at all anymore. “And even if I was—Lord save me from being so pompous.”
“Forgive me as I point out there is a time for humility and a time to shine.” James glanced up out of the corner of his eye. “I believe that is from the Bible.”
Rayne smirked. “Not quite.”
James shrugged. “Well, I’ll just put the pin back into the box and give the box to your wife.”
“She isn’t my wife.”
James plucked at his cuffs. “Not by the usual standards, perhaps, but by ours—”
“Even at Periwinkle Gate, both parties must agree.”
“Do you mean to tell me she set out to abduct you when shedidn’twish to wed?” He lifted his brows. “I knew I should have gone for theredcravat.”
Abduct him.Odd to hear the words so cheerfully spoken.
He frowned. “Whatexactlydid Farring’s letter say?”
