Jade and Theo responded with a simultaneous “Yes, sir,” before Matherson continued, providing further details and setting up a time to go over logistics.
The likelihood of the two of them encountering the assassin at the opera was slim, but it might be a good chance to spy on Grannam and see ifhe spoke to anyone about Arthur’s death. That was Jade’s top priority for the mission.
With the opera being two days away, Jade wouldn’t have the opportunity to make it back to the farmhouse and give Nicolas the letters she found at Arthur’s home, which would only further delay progress they could make together. If Nicolas had the information from the letters, he might be able to use it to somehow uncover more. Jade still didn’t know how he came by his leads.
But it would be fine. She was going out on a mission, which at least meant she was doing something worthwhile. She would keep a close watch on Grannam to learn even more that she could take back to Nicolas, hopefully allowing them to bring an end to this deadly conflict and secure the true line of succession.
Twenty-Six
Dust sparkled in the airaround Jade and Theo in the streams of stage light that broke through occasional vents in the ceiling. The farther they traveled over the audience and away from the stage, the dimmer the light grew, and in their solid black espionage uniforms, they disappeared into the darkness. Not that there was anyone else in the rafters of the opera house to see them, anyway.
Music swelled and echoed in the empty space all around them, drowning out any sound they might have made, though they were light and careful with their footsteps. The piercing notes of the leading soprano, the rich tenor of her love interest, and the majestic mixing of voices in the chorus carried along the waves of the orchestra to reach every dark corner.
Jade led the way to the place where the Evenshold box was located, on the top of four stories in the circular opera house. She positioned herself near a vent where she could see the family clearly.
Lord Grannam and his wife sat behind their two daughters, Marguerite on the right in a stunning emerald gown, and Sylvie on the left wearing navy blue. Grannam’s son, Phillipe, was not present, but he was likely with his wife in their own space.
Theo settled by a vent a short distance away, and Jade focused her attention on the Evensholds. Marguerite held opera glasses to her eyes every so often, a small smile on her face. Something relaxed in Jade to see Marguerite at ease. Marguerite had become a friend to Elena, and the closeness surprised Jade. In fact, she and Alanna were disproving some of Jade’s long-held beliefs. They weren’t cruel, deceitful, and arrogant as she’d always thought about the nobility, especially the royal family. Shallow and privileged, yes, but not spiteful. Not pretentious.
Sylvie reached out for the opera glasses, and Marguerite handed them to her. Neither appeared to have a care in the world. But just because the Evenshold daughters didn’t perceive a threat didn’t mean there wasn’t one.
Jade shifted behind the vent to get a better view of Grannam. His gaze was trained toward the stage, but Jade could tell he wasn’t watching. He was preoccupied. His eyes flitted to the side every so often, and his hand continually drifted to his pocket. Something was hidden there. Could it be poison? A letter? Jade didn’t want to leave the vent with the sightline to Grannam, so she threw her hand in the air, waving it at Theo.
He caught sight of her movement and hurried to her side. “What is it?” His words were a breath in her ear, and her skin broke out in goosebumps. Now wasnotthe time to get distracted by Theo.
Jade angled her head toward where Grannam sat in his family’s box. “I think he’s going to do something while he’s here,” she whispered, and when she turned to face him, their noses almost brushed. One quick glance down to his lips, and Jade had to forcibly pull her gaze away. “He’s restless, and he keeps touching his pocket.”
“Keep a close eye on him. I’ll stick close to the Fellsrins but make rounds as I can to see if I notice anything suspicious.”
Jade nodded, not daring to look again at Theo.
But it didn’t make a difference.
Theo’s fingers caught her chin and turned her face toward him, and he closed the space between them with a kiss. It didn’t last long—maybe three or four seconds—but Jade’s whole being lit with desire. For a split second, she wished they weren’t currently in the rafters of an opera house on a vital espionage mission. They couldn’t affordanydistractions.
“I just had to do that once,” he murmured, then released her chin. Jade grinned at him and shooed him away, returning her attention to Lord Grannam as Theo made his way around the drafty space.
They’d shared a lot of kisses over the past couple of days—as many as they could spare in their free time between meetings and preparations for the mission. It was new but comfortable at the same time, and neither of them could get enough. Though in the busyness since their first kiss, they hadn’t had a chance to talk much about it. All they had agreed upon so far was that there was no reason to make it public yet. While relationships within the military weren’t frowned upon—as long as those involved could keep the bedroom and the battlefield separate—they wanted to have some time where it was just theirs.
Jade shut that part of her mind off as she zeroed in on her mission and the portion of the royal family sitting before her. The opera carried on without incident, but still, Grannam didn’t do anything other than fidget.
Theo reported back to her after every couple of rounds with nothing of note, and Jade sat back on her heels with a huff. They were missing something. A tingle in the back of her mind told her something was going to happen, but she’d gathered no indication of what it could be.
At Theo’s suggestion, they swapped tasks, and she got to move around and survey the rest of the opera house for herself as Theo kept watch on Lord Grannam. Jade crept from vent to vent, peering through at the nobility she could spot in their boxes. Nothing about the Fellsrins appeared unusual, except that Prince Reynauld had dozed off in his chair. His wife noticed andnudged him, and he came to with a slight snort. She glared at him before returning her attention to the performance, and Reynauld shook himself awake.
Arabella and Alanna sat side by side, pictures of beauty in their complementary wine red and forest green gowns. Jade studied their faces and posture for signs of fear, anxiety, or anything else that might indicate they knew something she didn’t, but they appeared as contented and relaxed as the Evenshold sisters. Even Lady Arabella, whom Jade had rarely seen without a scowl, was completely captivated by the performance, sitting slightly forward in her chair as though physically drawn to the stage.
Jade’s own apprehension about what the night might hold began to fade as she circled the ceiling of the rest of the upper boxes. The symphony of instruments and voices lulled Jade into a sense of calm. Finally, she rejoined Theo, who had no updates to report.
“You can take over here if you want,” he said quietly, standing from his crouched position so Jade could resume his place at the vent. “I think I’ll head back to the stage and see if I can see anything from there.”
“Okay,” Jade confirmed, but before she lowered herself to the vent by the Evensholds’ box, Theo grabbed her gloved hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her knuckles. Jade couldn’t resist the smile that tugged at her lips. Theo flashed one back at her, then turned and crept toward the hatch that would take him to the wings above the stage.
Jade settled into her position beside the vent, keeping her eyes on Lord Grannam as the music swelled and transformed. The sweet calmness dissipated, replaced by a deep rumble of increasing tension. Marguerite and Sylvie were entranced, their eyes fixed on the stage before them, which Jade couldn’t see. Even their mother, Lady Beatrice, watched intently, enraptured by the story playing out. Grannam, however, still fidgeted, still flitted his eyes, still tapped his foot. He was clearly waiting for something.
The song ended, and the audience applauded. Grannam leaned over, whispered something in his wife’s ear, and stood.
Jade leaped to her feet. Surely this was what he had been anticipating. She rushed to the next vent, spotting him through the window in the door behind another family’s box, then to another until he had gone out of sight.
