When the door opened, it was a young woman in a pinafore with a thick, puffy bracelet at her wrist stuck full of pins. She took one look at my leathers, gaping as if they were an offense, then beckoned me inside as Faye pushed me from the back.
“Please, please, quickly,” the woman said in a strange accent. “I will need you to remove your clothing down to your undergarments—”
“I can help.”
I turned, yanking my elbow out of the woman’s grip, to find Hanson ambling into the room from an adjoining door.
I gasped and instinctively covered my chest, though I hadn’t taken anything off yet. But he only nodded to Faye.
“Well done. I should have listened to you.”
“It was simple. Her General wasn’t at the meal. She’s far easier to influence without him,” Faye said. When I gaped at her, she turned to look at me and waved me off. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. You reallyaregetting a new gown—and you’re entirely safe. Hanson isn’t one ofthosebastards. He just wanted a chance to speak with you alone, so I arranged it. Everybody wins!”
“But—”
“You get your gown and have a chat, then come to the ball tonight with Donavyn. Everything will be fine. Now, I must go get ready myself. I’ll see you this evening!”
And she was out the door faster than a mouse with a cat on its tail. I darted after her, but quick as a flash, Hanson slipped between me and the door, leaning back against it to close it, and giving me that sly smile.
I stood there, unmoving, beginning to sweat, mind spinning as I tried to assess how much danger I was in.
The seamstress was still here. There were bolts of cloth on the walls, and countless shelves of ribbon, thread, and other sewing supplies. This clearlywasa modiste, or whatever Faye had called it. Yet, Hanson was here, shutting me in and…
He’d shut me in.
“Open that door,” I said calmly, though my heart pounded so hard my head hurt.
He raised his hands like I had him at knifepoint.
I wish I did. We’d chosen not to wear our blades this morning so we wouldn’t be viewed as a threat if we met other dragon riders at the stables. A mistake I wouldn’t make again.
“I know you’re nervous, Brennan. But you have no need—I won’t harm you. I give you my word.”
“If you wouldn’t harm me, why trick me here? Why not just offer to help?”
He arched one brow. “You believeyourGeneral would simply step aside and allow you to spend the afternoon with me?”
“No. He’ll be furious when he finds out—”
“Ifhe finds out.”
“He’ll find out because I’ll tell him.”Tell the truth… until you can’t.
Hanson didn’t respond immediately, his dark eyes locked on mine with that strange intensity, then he spoke quietly, but not to me.
“Chardin, please select the dresses you believe we can alter in time for tonight’s ball, and set each up on a bust in the other room. Lady Brennan and I will join you shortly.”
Chardin bobbed a curtsey and left, shutting the door behind her and leaving me utterly alone with Hanson.
My heart still raced, and if I wasn’t gripping my sleeves I knew my hands would shake. But I didn’t panic. I raised my chin and stared him down.
He smiled wider.
“You have nothing to fear from me, Brennan. I am not a man who takes what is not offered—what challenge is there in that? No. I far prefer to tempt. Entice.Seduce.”He stood just arm’s reach from me, his broad body blocking the door. At the wordseducehis posture shifted and the hair on my arms stood up when he scanned down my body.
But he didn’t touch me.
“Remember that,” he said quietly, then scanned me again, and licked his lips once.
