Inside the shop, they spent a pleasant hour looking at ribbons and lace, discussing what colors would look best for the festival. Lottie was adamant that Jeane needed blue ribbon to match her eyes—even though Jeane’s eyes were brown.
“Trust me,” Lottie insisted. “Blue will make them look brighter.”
Jeane laughed, letting herself be swept up in the excitement. For a moment, she could almost forget about her father, about the danger she was in.
But then she saw him.
A man standing across the street, talking to a merchant. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a familiar stance that made Jeane’s blood run cold.
It was Conor Addison. Her father’s man-at-arms.
Jeane dropped the ribbon she’d been holding, her hands suddenly shaking.
“Liliana? What’s wrong?” Lottie asked, but Jeane was already backing away from the window, pulling Lottie with her.
“We need to go,” Jeane whispered urgently. “Now.”
“What—”
“Please, Lottie. Trust me. We need to leave.”
Lottie must have seen the terror in Jeane’s eyes because she didn’t argue. She followed Jeane toward the back of the shop where there was a rear entrance.
“Is there a problem, ladies?” the shopkeeper asked, looking concerned.
“Nay, we just… we forgot somethin’ at the castle,” Lottie said quickly. “We’ll be back later.”
They slipped out the back door into an alley, and Jeane pressed herself against the wall, her heart hammering so hard she thought it might burst from her chest.
“Liliana, ye’re scarin’ me,” Lottie said. “What’s goin’ on?”
“I saw one of me faither’s friends,” Jeane gasped. “Across the street. I’m sure of it.”
“Are ye certain? Maybe it was just someone who looked like?—”
“I’m certain,” Jeane said though even as she said it, doubt crept in. She’d only glimpsed him for a moment. Could she really be sure?
“We need to get to Aiden,” Lottie said, taking charge. “Come on.”
They hurried through the alley, emerging onto a side street. Jeane kept her head down, her heart still racing.
“There’s Aiden,” Lottie said, waving to catch his attention.
Aiden saw them and immediately started toward them, his expression alarmed. “What happened? Why did ye leave the shop?”
“Liliana thought she saw someone,” Lottie explained.
“One of me faither’s friends,” Jeane added, her voice shaking. “Conor Addison. He was across the street from the shop.”
Aiden’s hand went to his sword. “Show me.”
They walked back toward the main street, staying close to the buildings. Jeane’s eyes scanned the crowd, looking for that familiar figure.
But he wasn’t there.
“Where was he?” Aiden asked.
“Right there,” Jeane said, pointing to where she’d seen him. “Talkin’ to the merchant.”
