Midnight Jewel (The Glittering Court #2)(58)

Icy silence descended as they stared each other down, and I had an unwelcome flashback to Adelaide and Tamsin fighting. The heat I’d felt in the tavern was gone. All I wanted was for these two to make peace.

Grant yielded first, the challenge fading from his eyes. “Sekem, I didn’t—”

Aiana held up a hand and moved toward the horse. “Don’t. She is already like you. Maybe she always was. And I’m going to assume from now on, she’ll just come and go when she wants. I’ll cover when I can, but if anything happens to her, it’s on you. I hope all your dreams and glory are worth that. Let’s go, Mira.”





CHAPTER 15


I FELL ASLEEP AS SOON AS I WAS BACK IN MY BED, AND morning came far too quickly. I opened my bleary eyes to find Adelaide standing over me, dressed for the day and full of questions.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Thank you for not telling anyone.”

I could see she was waiting for more detail, perhaps an explanation or simply where I’d been. I stayed silent, mostly to avoid lying to her. At last, she asked cautiously, “Were you out exploring the city?”

“Yes.” That, at least, I could say truthfully. “Foolish, I know.”

“Something could’ve happened to you! Promise me you won’t do it again. It’s not safe for a woman alone.”

“The world never is,” I remarked ruefully. It was the story of my life.

She gave me a sharp look. “You didn’t promise.”

“Because I can’t.”

“Mira—”

“Adelaide. You have to trust that I wouldn’t do anything—dangerous or otherwise—without a good reason. But . . . well . . .”

I looked away, suddenly faced with a part of this subterfuge I hadn’t had to deal with before. On the ship, Adelaide had been too distracted to notice much of my goings-on. And until recently, my biggest fear of detection had been by those who dictated my future, like the Thorns. None of my work for Grant was supposed to have affected her. Technically, it still didn’t, but now that she had noticed my behavior, I had to choose how to address it.

“We all have our secrets,” I said, looking back up at her. “I know you do too, and I respect that.”

Adelaide had a hard time arguing against that, no doubt recalling that I’d never pushed for details on her erratic performance back at Blue Spring. Still, I couldn’t blame her for worrying. She was all I had left after Tamsin, and I was protective of her. I should’ve known Tamsin’s loss would make Adelaide protective of me too.

She backed off on her interrogation and even gave me an easy smile as she left the room, but I knew I hadn’t totally erased her fears. As I finished pinning up my hair, I tried to imagine telling her the truth. What would she say if she knew that I’d been breaking into the home of a respected citizen last night? That I’d kissed a man inside a tavern of ill repute? That said man was a spy with a dangerous past and an infuriating personality?

I stood in the doorway to my bedroom, closing my eyes for just a moment before following her downstairs. Against my better judgment, I let myself savor the memory of kissing Grant. Of being wrapped up with him. I opened my eyes and took a deep breath.

Stop this. Grant is a distraction, that stern inner voice reminded me as I walked down the stairs. He’s just a means to helping Lonzo.

At the breakfast table, Mistress Culpepper was already announcing today’s schedule. The Thorns made sure no one stayed idle. Some, like Adelaide, had had all sorts of requests for meetings, and she spent her day entertaining one caller after another at the house. Those who weren’t occupied with individual appointments were sent off on group visits for tea or other activities that would get us exposure. I actually had a couple of callers of my own. One of them was making the rounds to all the girls. The other seemed legitimately curious about me, which was flattering, but nothing about him otherwise left an impression.

Our most important events took place in the evenings. Those dinners and parties drew in the most prestigious suitors and gave us a chance to assess the homes and resources of those who were courting us. Adelaide, Amelia, and I attended our first private party at the home of an esteemed merchant. Despite our host’s obvious wealth, the party felt casual compared to the pomp and excess of the ball. We were still made up to perfection and still on our best behavior among Cape Triumph’s elite, but at least there weren’t so many of them. We also had the freedom to mingle with whomever we chose. There were no set dance cards tonight. Actually, there wasn’t much dancing of any kind, which let me give my ankle a rest.

Thinking of my ankle made me think of Grant, and thinking of him made me think of his hands on my leg, and thinking of that . . .

“Are you okay, miss?”

I blinked away from my imagination’s treachery and focused on a young man standing before me, his face quizzical. “Sorry?”

“You look so flushed,” he said. “I hope the room isn’t too hot for you. Should I get you some water?”

“That’s very kind, thank you.”

I struggled to keep smiling as he flagged down a servant. This was maddening. It had only been one kiss. Well, one kiss and a hiked skirt. When the solicitous man returned with my water, I turned my charm up as high as I could, flirting far more than I had with anyone at the debut ball. If some part of me was intent on experimenting with a transient lover, then surely I could find someone else. Someone less . . . complicated.