the villa. He’d chosen it for Ily because she’d wanted as few distractions as possible. He’d grown up in Lasura. This had once been his schoolroom, and he knew from personal experience that this was the least distracting room in the house.
He’d spent an awful lot of time inside these walls, and it was strange to think of living elsewhere. His home in Cresa wasn’t nearly as grand. He hoped Ily would like it. He smiled at the birds carved into the fresco on the ceiling. If she didn’t, he’d build her another to better suit her taste. She could arrange to hire whichever masters she chose. Or none at all if she wished to completely isolate herself from the guild. So many years of deprivation. He planned to spoil her outrageously. Her and Nira both.
“Why did you stay in the city?” The coolness of her voice jarred him from his daydream.
He raised himself up onto his elbow and took in the mess. The rug was...ruined, quite possibly beyond repair. Frayed threads and tangles of cloth. The center was intact, but he had no idea if it would be possible for her to separate it from the rest. He felt badly for her lost work—but not about the end result. In the beginning, he’d regarded the rug as little more than bait but had enjoyed watching it take shape beneath her hands, watching her as she worked. He hoped it was salvageable. He’d long since decided to keep it and send another to Haran. Ruined or not, he’d bring this rug with them to their new home if only for the pleasure of seeing Ily blush when visitors asked after its state. A reminder of this day.
His smile faded when Ily turned her face and he realized she didn’t share his joy.
“Why didn’t I leave? I couldn’t really. Lanel was suspicious when Nira died. By staying in Lasura and resuming my life after publicly grieving the loss of my daughter, I was able to deflect the rumors that I’d spirited her away. My business interests take me regularly to the warehouses. And—” He looked at her, chose his words carefully. “There would have been no possibility of locating a tutor for Nira outside of Lasura. The children kept their eyes and ears open for me.”
“Your own little network of spies.”
He dipped his head in acknowledgement. “They hear things. I asked them to bring word if they noticed anyone of true talent in the markets. I had some hope of finding a person with basic training. Hope that they could be bought and that it would be enough. You...I never expected to find you.” He turned her wrist, pressed a kiss to the tender skin over the guild seal that marked her as a master. “Seli noticed this and told me of it.”
“Seli? That boy is far too curious for his own good.”
“He is, but clever too. And quick. I might take him with us.” He paused and regarded her closely. “You look as if you’re reconsidering your decision.”
She shook her head, but there was something off. Despite the flush to her cheeks and the fact that he knew he’d satisfied her, she was not remotely at ease. He loved to speak with Ily after sex when she was warm, relaxed and playful. That Ily he’d fallen in love with. This Ily was stiff and resolute, grim as a warrior. Fear settled like a cold weight in his stomach. Absently, she reached down to stroke the edge of the rug, her graceful fingers sifting through the loose thread.
“Ily,” he said, “if you truly don’t want to do this, I won’t coerce you. You do know that, correct?”
Her mouth curved and when she glanced his way there was a light in her eyes that reassured him even though her words were sharp. “When has your charm ever failed you so completely that you were reduced to coercion?”
“You didn’t find me charming when we first met.”
She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “I did find you charming. That’s what I hated about you.”
He chose to ignore the illogic of that and, rising, he moved so that he knelt before her. He needed to see her face. Taking her hands—her small, steady, capable hands—he asked, “What is it then?”
“He’ll follow me now that he knows where I am. That will place Nira in danger.”
“He won’t bother to track us to Cresa.”
“No, he won’t.” Her hands tightened on his. “I intend to