Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,61
“I do hope you are well.”
Realizing he was genuinely distressed that I had been taken whilst under his protection, I sought to reassure him. “Of course, Lieutenant. Captain Wolfe and I looked out for one another.”
We both ignored the grunt from said captain’s direction.
“The vojvodkyna has a suite waiting for you. She realizes how exhausted you must be and has given you leave to retreat to your room.”
Given me leave? I wanted to snort at that. I was going to my bloody room, leave or not. I didn’t say that, though. That would make me sound jealous. And I wasn’t. Not a bit. “How kind of her.”
Several members of the guard were waiting outside of Vojvodkyna Winter’s white-stone mansion. It was like a small replica of the Silveran palace. Hmm. I raised an eyebrow but kept quiet. I wouldn’t have been able to comment, even if I’d wanted to. The soldiers circled me and Wolfe, peppering us with questions until Wolfe took pity on me and ordered his men aside so I could go inside.
“Lady Rogan,” Wolfe called as I walked away. I stiffened at hearing him so formal. I turned slightly, face expressionless.
“Yes, Captain?”
“I would prefer if we stayed here for a few days instead of one. To regain our strength.”
I returned his nod with a brittle one of my own. I could understand the wisdom in the suggestion, despite my desperate need to get to Alvernia … except I wondered if it was just wisdom on Wolfe’s part or if he wanted some extra time with the beautiful vojvodkyna.
Shaking off the strange pang of hurt I felt, I followed Lieutenant Chaeron who introduced me to the butler, a beautiful older woman. I’d never met a female butler before. It wasn’t really the done thing. Yet it did not surprise me to find one in Winter’s home. The butler’s auburn hair was tied back in a fierce knot, streaks of silver darting through the sides. I was surprised that Winter had such an attractive butler, thinking perhaps her vain enough to want to be the prettiest woman in her home.
But when the butler called for two maidservants to help me to my room, I came to a better understanding. The two maids were stunning young creatures, their auburn hair and wide blue eyes a striking counterpart to their dark work clothes. Then again, even their work clothes were the finest I had seen.
It was then I realized something obvious: Vojvodkyna Winter Rada was obsessed with beauty. And so far the servants resembled her in coloring. It was strange to say the least, and I wasn’t just being snotty because of her history with Wolfe. I found it all a little narcissistic. Not a little. A lot.
As I followed the stunning little creatures to a lovely bedroom suite where a bath already awaited me, as did a tray of food, I snorted at the maids’ beauty. The Royal Guard must be in haven here.
It was a wonderful sleep. Comfortable. Warm. Luxurious even. I did dream of Haydyn again, but I had given in to the idea that until I saved her, she was going to be a regular visitor in my subconscious. The next morning, I awoke to a maid setting a tray over my lap. She informed me I had missed breakfast but that once I was refreshed, I was invited to join the vojvodkyna in her parlor for tea.
Not particularly looking forward to that, I made an agreeable noise from the back of my throat before tearing into my toast. The maid stared at me a little wide-eyed, probably unaccustomed to a lady taking out her anger on harmless toasted bread. She gave me a tremulous smile and then bustled around the room, laying out a dress from the luggage the Royal Guard had kept safe. It would be nice to wear clean clothes again.
I followed another pretty maid to a room with white double doors edged in gold. A handsome footman with burnished brown hair and pale-blue eyes pulled the door open for me, and I swept inside, my gaze returning to the footman who was strangely familiar.
“I see Arnaud has captured your attention,” a husky voice curled around me, drawing my attention away from the footman.
My spirits depressed. I forgot the impact of Winter’s beauty. Contrary to her name, Winter was more autumn in coloring. Striking auburn hair, wide cobalt eyes, and fine features. Her pale skin was the only thing about her that could be