then I rush out the door before I can stop myself.
The halls of the manor are quiet, empty, as I creep across the floors. Downstairs, there’s no sign of guests, none of our hired servants, no residents. I release a sigh of relief and continue toward the back of the manor to the doors that lead out to the gardens. Once outside, the cool night air greets me. Never before has this sensation felt so welcome. It was always warmth and sunshine I’ve craved before, but the peace of a snowy night brings such a similar feeling that for once, I don’t mind the cold.
I walk down the garden path, emptying my mind as I focus on nothing but the pitter patter of falling flakes, the crunch of my boots in the snow. After a time, a new sound falls upon my ears, footsteps that are not my own.
I whirl around, finding Elliot on the path behind me. His breath comes out in puffs of white while snow falls over his hair. No longer combed and styled like it was at dinner, it falls around his face in disarray—yet, somehow, still makes him look somewhat handsome in a rugged, roguish way. His hands are tucked into the pockets of a long wool overcoat in a deep green. Beneath it, I see the hint of trousers and an untucked linen shirt but no waistcoat, no cravat. I wonder if he too got out of bed to come here.
Without a word, he slowly crosses the distance between us, and I realize he’s still wearing his prosthetic. Stopping a few paces away, he offers me a tight-lipped smile. His expression flickers with something I can’t quite place. Is it worry? Fatigue?
Finally, he speaks. “I’m sorry.”
His words shatter my peace, reminding me of that awful dinner. I release a sigh. “It wasn’t your fault. It…it’s just how Imogen is.”
“Not about that,” he says, his voice a low rumble. He shifts his stance as trepidation clouds his face. “About…before. About the money and my vault.”
Guilt sinks my stomach, making it churn. My words come out with a tremor. “Please don’t apologize for that.”
He averts his gaze from me, opening and closing his mouth a few times before he speaks again. “I shouldn’t have been hurtful about it. I meant what I said, that I must protect myself in case—”
“Please don’t, Your Majesty. I don’t want to talk about that.”
His eyes return to mine, and his expression softens. A corner of his mouth quirks into a halfhearted grin. “First of all, enough with that Your Majesty nonsense. Call me Elliot. I learned today that first names are considered quite an honor.” A smile tugs my lips at the jest in his voice. “Second of all, do you mind if we talk about something else?”
I furrow my brow. “Like what?”
“Anything,” he says with a shrug. “I can’t sleep.”
“Neither could I.”
“Well, then.” He straightens his posture with a hint of lighthearted mockery and offers me his arm. “This is another thing I learned tonight, thanks to your comprehensive list of dinner etiquette.”
I place my hand at the crook of his elbow, and we begin to walk, our steps slow and leisurely. “I’m pleased to discover you read it. Speaking of, how did the rest of the dinner go?”
His lips twist with a scowl. “It was the most unenjoyable thing I’ve ever been forced to endure.”
“But you endured it? Everyone made it out alive?”
“Barely. I followed your list. Finished dinner, adjourned to the parlor. I took my place by the fire, and most of the talking was done at me, more than with me, which I suppose I should be grateful for.”
“And Imogen?” I can’t say her name without another churn of my stomach. “Were you able to regain her favor?”
“She seemed to light up as soon as you left the dining hall. Hardly a moment passed before she recommenced with batting her lashes at me. I could barely stand to look at her after how vile she acted before you left.”
I shrug. “Well, now you see why I chose her for our scheme. I wouldn’t select just anyone to trick into sacrificing their greatest treasure.”
“No, I can certainly see why she is the one. All the guests were despicable, of course, but she more than the rest, followed by her mother. How many times must one touch another’s forearm when speaking?” He grimaces.
I let out a laugh but sober from it quickly. “You shouldn’t have defended me with