Page 17 of Dagger’s Shield

“Right. If we’re to be engaged, it would be best if you didn’t sleep with other women while we’re in France.” The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. “Je suis désolée—I’m sorry.”

“Done and don’t be. I’ve earned comments like that.”

“But—”

He held up a hand. “We’ll need to convince your family that we’re in love.”

“And?”

He shrugged. “Do you think you can?”

I laughed. “I’m French,” I said. “I’ll treat you as any Frenchwoman treats the man she loves—as though you are the great passion of my life and a daily inconvenience. No one will doubt a word of it. Can you?”

“No trouble at all, mon feu.”

“Your fire?”

Dagger moved his chair closer. “It’s the way I see you.”

I scoffed, not even trying to stop myself. “You would be alone in that.”

“Maybe it’s because I’m the only one who sees the real you.”

My breath caught, and my cheeks flushed, then I realized what he was doing. “Très bien. That was quite convincing.”

He pulled himself up and turned away. “Happy you think so,” he muttered over his shoulder.

Once again, I wondered if I’d offended him. No. It wasn’t possible. Dagger was very charismatic, but that had exceeded his usual charm. I stood and took my cup to the sink. “We should brief everyone.”

“Agreed, and I’ll follow your lead in terms of how much you wish to divulge.”

“If you’re referring to my father, I will be entirely forthcoming. I won’t hide or protect him.” I walked over to put my boots on and grab my jacket. I was almost out the door when Dagger called after me.

“There’s one more thing. You’ll need this.” He reached inside his shirt, wrapped his fist around something that looked like a chain, and lifted it over his head. He unfastened the clasp and slid the ring that hung from it off.

“What are you doing?” I asked, trying to pull away when he took my left hand in his and put it on my finger.

“Warm like the sun and a perfect fit,” he said.

“What is this?” I asked, looking down at where he still held my hand.

“It was my mother’s.”

“Dagger, no. We can buy something. I cannot wear this.” I tried to wriggle from his grasp, but he held on tight.

“You’ll return it. If we don’t end up married.”

He released me then, and I took a closer look. The gold band had been worn smooth, and there was a modest-sized diamond set in a nest of prongs. It was the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.

I returned to Ahnósta, dreading placing a call to my mother, but I had to let her know of my impending visit.

When she answered on the fifth ring, it sounded as though I’d woken her.

“Maman? Were you sleeping?”

“Maëlle? No, no. I was only resting.”

It was fourteen hundred in the Côte d’Or, and I’d never known my mother to nap in the afternoon. “Are you unwell?”