Arranged: An Array Series (Book #1)(19)

“Wait, why are his men here?”

George took off his coat and hung it around my shoulders. “Since you’ve been home, Garr has had a special group of men here. They’ve settled in, looking over the town, to make sure you are kept safe. They report back to him every other week.”

My mind whirled. After all this time, even without his presence, he still made sure I was safe? He used his resources and trusted men to ensure my safety? I didn’t know how to comprehend that.

“Do I know any of them?” I asked.

“Mr. Torres is one.”

“Mr. Torres? My Mr. Torres?!” I furrowed my brows. “Why didn’t you tell me this?” I asked, but then recanted. “Because I would have said no, that I didn’t need anyone here.”

“Glad you see how stubborn you are after all these years, and what I’ve had to deal with. We need to get back to the castle.” He saw my mouth open, but continued, “I know you don’t want to go. I don’t want to take the life you’ve made for yourself. But you’re safer with me. Besides, we can spend some time together and be what we used to be.”

“What’s going on?” Garrett asked, walking quickly over to us.

“John said the rebels are here, in town. We have to move,” George explained.

“Where is he?”

“In the back. He’ll have a carriage waiting for us momentarily.”

“They’ll expect us to leave tonight,” Garrett replied to no one in particular.

“We have to,” George insisted.

“Travelling at night, number one, isn’t something I prefer to do,” he clipped. “Secondly, I don’t know how many men they have here. I need more information before we make a move.”

George huffed, but didn’t press any further. “I will check to see if John has things organized.”

Garrett pulled a dagger from the inside of his coat and handed it to him. “Don’t miss.”

George took it and proceed down the balcony steps. I watched him disappear, pulling his brown coat closer around me.

“We’ll get you warm soon,” Garrett promised, stepping closer to me.

“It’s fine,” I interjected. The man thought of everything; if I was cold, if I was safe, if there were people watching Papa and I. Looking at him, he showed no signs of worry. His face was mellow, like how it’d been when we danced. A man bearing the safety of the crown and my predicament on those strong shoulders.

“We’ll get you home in no time.”

“Thank you,” I replied genuinely. “For everything.”

He looked at me with a raised brow. “For what?”

“Let’s go,” George called.

Perfect timing, as usual.





Ava





Chapter 7





I’d spent the last two days on the back of my horse, not able to feel my bottom. George made sure we took a break every three hours, so I could stretch my legs and get off Onyx. The weather had been warm but chilly at night. I tried to enjoy the new scenery, but I worried about Papa. Garrett said that he would have men there looking over him, which gave me a little relief.

The nights were my favorite. I gazed out at the sky, from my sleeping mat, looking for constellations that Sam and I would find together. But sleep was something I didn’t get much of. With these radicals coming to Bampshire, it showed that they were relentless. I felt like it was a warning for George that they hadn’t forgotten about me, and that angered me.

Being a woman, I’d use it to my advantage. They almost killed me once, but I wasn’t the same girl I’d been four years ago. It was eye-opening. Cowering and submitting defeat wasn’t in my nature, and George needed my help. If we worked together, the sooner this may end. And being together, to look out for the other, would put us both at ease.

On our third day, we passed a little town that I couldn’t remember the name of. We rode through a grassy field, the sky overcast with dark gray clouds, as I studied the scenery. A patch of woods was to one side, while rolling green hills dotted with flowers peeked in the distance. It wasn’t until I heard Garrett order all to halt that I came back from my trance. He motioned for one of his men to come forward and spoke quietly to him. The man took off in haste ahead of us, and George rode to my side.

“Ever been to this town before?” George asked, clenching his jaw.

“Not that I remember,” I replied quietly, as Garrett’s men circled us. They were positioning for an attack; I recognized the stance from the soldiers at the orphanage. “George, something is wrong.”

He looked at me, taking a deep breath. “I think so.”

“They followed us, didn’t they?”

“Yes.”

Adrenaline rushed through every inch of my body. A horse, an empty field, and a few men; the scene was too familiar.

“Garr thinks the rebels may be staying in this town. One of his men thinks he recognized one of them. If one does live here, the others might have set up camp here somewhere.”

“What does he plan to do?”

“I wish I knew. When Garr gets into this mindset with his men, it’s best to leave him be. He has a special bond with this group.”

“Do you have a knife?” I asked. George furrowed his brows. “Yes, I said a knife. Give it to me.” He pulled one out of his jacket, the blade almost as long as my hand.