Commoners milled about the town, going about their day as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
Across the street a tall figure caught her eye, walking with long loping steps.
It was the demon. What was he doing here?
His gaze lifted as if feeling her stare, and their eyes locked. She jolted in surprise and looked away, embarrassed to be caught being so bold.
The demon turned on his heel and started walking across the road towards her.
She looked around in alarm, searching for an escape, but he had already seen her. To make matters worse, her table was at the border of the bistro, close to the street.
He walked right up to her, separated only by a thin white railing, and spoke, his voice a deep rumble, “Hello, Elizabeth.”
“Hello…?” she trailed off, waiting for his name. Many would have considered it an affront for someone to use only her first name without her surname or title.
“You may call me Caspian.”
“Er, nice to meet you, Caspian.”
Caspian said smoothly, “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself earlier.”
“I see. And what brings you all the way to Briarton?” She shouldn’t be speaking to him at all, but curiosity was getting the better of her.
“Business.” The word was clipped.
“What kind of business? Might I ask?”
The demon regarded her for a moment. “I am seeking a new business partner here, on the word of someone I met in the capital.”
Oh. That made sense. “And what sort of business ventures does a demon concern himself with?”
“There is something of value I want, and someone knows where I can find it. I am hoping we reach a mutual agreement.”
“Oh. I see. Well it was nice talking to you.”
She pointedly returned her attention to her tea, eager for him to be gone.
“This restaurant is nice. A favourite of yours?” he said casually, leaning on the fence enclosure.
She glanced around nervously. People were starting to notice her speaking with him.
“Pardon me for being so bold, but is there a reason you’re here?” she asked, gesturing vaguely at her table, chewing her lip. “You’re not following me, are you?”
“Who says it is notyouthat keeps followingme? This is the second time that I’ve run into you today.” He took a step closer, and shifted his feet, looking like he intended to stay for a while.
“I apologize, but my mother is not here. I am without a chaperone. This isn’t quite proper,” she blurted. She smiled a little, trying not to appear too rude. He hadn’t offered her harm yet, after all.
He tilted his head, as if considering. After a moment, he took a step back and said, “As you wish, Lady Elizabeth.”
“Oh.” Now that he’d agreed, she didn’t know what to say.
He inclined his head to her and swiftly departed, saving her the trouble.
“Lizzy! What in the Seven Hells are you doing?”
Her mother hurriedly walked back to her seat, pink in the face. “Speaking to a man while you are betrothed. One who is not one of us, even. A commoner, if my eyes deceive me!”
“He was at the ball, Mama,” she said stubbornly. “A man like that is as eligible as Duke Howard. And why can’t I become betrothed to a commoner?”
