~~o0o~~
It was only when Celina entered his life that he’d considered sharing it. He was determined not to follow his parents’ example, hence his reluctance to consider marriage in the past, but the thought of having children with Celina made him smile. The boys would be fierce and the girls would be spirited, and the floor would be littered with toys.
“Aren’t you coming back to the house?” he asked with surprise as she freed her hand from his and turned toward the staff block.
“Later. I just need to pick up some things.”
“Okay, then.” He pulled her back to give her a kiss. “Don’t be long.”
He shrugged as she walked away. He must have imagined that shadows were back in her eyes.
~~o0o~~
“Where are you going?”
“Amber?” Oh no!Celina grimaced inwardly as she turned to face her friend. Spotting Celina hurrying down the drive, Amber had halted her horse just outside the main gates. Celina hadn’t been able to get a lift into town. The grooms had left ages ago, so she’d had no alternative but to set out walking.
Amber eyed Celina’s bulging rucksack with suspicion. “That looks heavy. What have you got in there?”
“This? Oh…”
“Don’t lie to me, Celina,” Amber said quietly, dismounting from her horse. “We’ve been through too much together for that.”
Which was true. Amber had been nothing short of incredible, since she’d offered to buy Celina and the other captives pizza when they were starving in Monte Carlo, and she’d gone on to be a staunch ally in the cellar, both before and after the Blood and Thunder raid. “I’m sorry. I’ve got to go,” she insisted, trying to move past Amber
“Go? Go where?” Amber pressed suspiciously, side-stepping in front of Celina to block her way.
“I’ve got an appointment in town—”
“Oh?” Amber frowned.
It was twilight already. If Celina didn’t leave now, she’d miss the last bus.
“Why are you going into town now?” A few seconds passed, and then understanding dawned in Amber’s eyes. “No, you don’t,” she said, and taking a firm hold of Celina’s arms, she turned her around to face the way she’d come.
“I’m going back,” Celina said quietly, not wanting to fight with her friend. “I’m needed. I can be more use to the team than I am here.”
“You won’t be any use to us dead.”
Celina started in alarm as Diego strode up to them. “Diego?”
Sensing a drama about to unfold, Amber backed off. Directing a silent greeting at Diego, who only had eyes for Celina, she mounted her horse and rode away.
“What’s this?” he demanded, flicking a glance at Celina’s heavy rucksack. “Are you running away again?”
“I’m not running away.”
“That’s what it looks like to me.”
“I’m runningtosomething.”
“Oh, really?” he snarled contemptuously. “And why would that be?”
“Because I can’t stay here with you!”
“Is this because I suggested you become my wife? Is the thought so unappealing?”
“No—” She stared around in desperation, trying to order her jumbled thoughts. “I need to help the team, and I can do that better if I go back. And I don’t want to be a pampered wife—”
