His eyes widened. “What are you doing here?” he said, walking into the shop.
I took a step back, too surprised to talk.
“Your Highness,” the guard said, bowing. “I was questioning this shop owner.” He darted a glance at me. “Er, I will question her next.”
Ash took my arm, his fingers burning through my sleeves. “No need. She’s with me.”
Miriam’s jaw fell as she looked from me to Ash. I avoided her questioning gaze and followed him outside. There were several horses waiting on the cobblestone with another guard. Ash led me to a lamp post, far enough to prevent eavesdropping.
“What are you doing here?” he repeated. The lamp light cast harsh shadows across his features.
“I...I was shopping for a snail,” I said. It was a horrible lie. No one in their right mind would buy anything from Miriam’s shop.
“You’ve been crying.”
I lowered my head. “I haven’t.”
“Amarante.” Ash took my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. “Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”
I moved away with a laugh, my cheeks aching from the fraudulence. “Nothing is wrong. I didn’t find a snail I like, that’s all.”
He didn’t smile. “Last night and now this. You’re worrying me.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, turning around. “Listen, I have to go.”
Ash grabbed my hand, squeezing my knuckles as he did so. I sucked in a breath. My reaction did not go unnoticed.
“What is this?” he said, staring at the welts on the back of my hand. They had not yet healed from yesterday’s beatings.
Before I could come up with an excuse, Ash pushed up my sleeve and revealed the angry red scratches I had acquired in the past week.
I yanked my arm away. “It’s nothing. I fell this morning.” The lie came smoothly, but my throat seized at his expression.
“Let me see your other arm,” he said, stepping forward.
I stepped back as he advanced, holding both my arms behind my back. Narcissa’s initials were still scratched on my other hand. I didn’t think Ash would take long to figure out that “NW” didn’t actually stand for northwest.
“I promise it’s nothing,” I said, but Ash looked determined. My back hit a wall of a building and before I could slip away, his arms were on either side of my head.
“If it’s nothing, why are you hiding it?” Ash demanded.
I didn’t expect the moisture that sprung to my eyes. I wanted to tell him that nothing had gone right after my meeting with the duchess. But I knew if I did, he would have no wish to help me. I blinked, feeling hot tears run down my face.
Ash looked taken aback. He stepped away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you—”
I shook my head. “Can you trust me?”
His eyes softened. “I do trust you.”
“Then understand I have my reasons. I...I want to go home.” My voice broke. I missed Theodora and Rowena and poking fun at our neighbors with Genevieve. I missed when all I worried about was filling up time. I even missed Lydia’s ramblings.
Ash pulled me into a hug. I buried my face into his shoulder and sobbed like a baby. His scent of evergreen and peppermint was a comforting familiarity in a sea of confusion.
“I’ll take you home,” he said.
“No. I’ll take a horse chaise.”
“Fine. But mark my words, I will find out what’s wrong,” he said. After a second, he gently kissed my knuckles and left.
