Amaris knocked over a jar of herbs as she stumbled back into the worktable. The shattering of glass was deafening. “Get out,” she croaked, fighting tears.
“Not going to happen.”
“There’s only one way in or out. Go sit at the bottom of the steps if you need to guard me.” Amaris hid her face, holding back a scream from ripping through her throat.
He dropped his head in his hands, dragging his hair back as he sighed. “I don’t like this situation any more than you do, but we’re stuck with each other. Let’s at least make the most of it.”
“You get to act like a complete asshole, but I have to play nice?” Amaris blew out a breath, but it did nothing to mask her fury. “Fuck you.”
“You’re the one who started this arguing.”
“You want me to apologize because your daddy is the duke? Let me guess. You’re used to getting everything you want? Once someone shows you a bit of disrespect, you demand for them to grovel at your feet and kiss your boots? I don’t care if you’re a lord or a goddamn prince. I won’t let you or anyone else treat me like I’m someone less than. He’ll come for me because he loves me.”
Amaris turned her back on him. Clenching the edge of the worktable, she stared at the jagged edges of the broken jar. He had no right to say anything about Derek.Her chest sharpened as her heart beat like a stampede. She wasn’t even sure Derekcouldcome to her rescue, let alone if it was even possible for her to get back.
The door shut behind her. It wasn’t a slam, but it rang louder in her ears than if he’d unleashed all his anger into the wood and splintered it.
Chapter 17
Theo
Theo’s father motionedfor him to enter his study. Theo took a casual position, resting upon the corner of the large, wooden desk while his father stood by the window. He rubbed his hand along his temples, bracing his mind between his fingers. Theo hoped the summons would be short and without emotional outbursts from either party. He still prayed to the gods that was the case.
“Who have the gods cursed upon us?” his father muttered.
“I hardly see the gods deeming us of any worth to burden us with Amaris.”
“Alan, will you fetch something stronger than tea?”
“Oh course, Your Grace,” Alan answered before exiting through the hidden servants’ door.
Many years ago, they’d all used the servants’ passageways as a means for adventure. Adelaide had stumbled upon the door and insisted on using the secret entrance for their own mischief. Their father hadn’t thought it amusing at all when he entered to find forty-nine chickokees squawking about and discarding their droppings on his desk. They’d planned tounleash fifty, but Adelaide had insisted on one for a pet.
“Theodoric,” he began.
Theo’s body stiffened at his call. Whether he started a conversation withTheoorTheodoricusually dictated the course of their meetings.
“What do you think of Miss Carter?”
Theo was tired of the question. He took a deep breath and rested his hands upon his belt. “She’s stubborn and annoying, but with those qualities, she’ll fit in perfectly.”
The scrunching of his father’s brows and drop of his eyelids were enough to show his displeasure at Theo’s attempt at humor. Describing what was reeling through his mind was impossible. He didn’t have the courage to break the deafening silence between them. Theo had intended to rile Amaris last week to see who she was running from, but he’d lost it when she spoke of her betrothed. She was emotional, but she’d defended him. Maybe Theo was wrong, and her injuries weren’t related.
Theo’s father pondered carefully. He was a strong leader. Theo would give him that much.
“Do you trust what she had to say?”
“In which regard?”
“She claimed to have pulled you from the river.”
Theo paused. Only Theo, Amaris, and Gris knew what happened that day. He’d already made a fool of himself when he’d fainted in the throne room and didn’t want his father believing Amaris had summoned him back from the dead. “I spoke with Gris, and she vouched for Amaris’s story. She was the one who jumped in, not Gris. I believe she’s telling the truth about running away too.”
Theo held back the new information regarding her betrothed. He wanted to learn more before he told his father. She was still hiding something, and Theo was going to learn what it was. Maybe it would clear her of the allegations.
“Indeed. I want this to continue to remain within the army. I don’twant a single word escaping these walls about how we have allowed a possible murderer to parade around as the mystique.”
“Why present the position to her?”
