The Glittering Court (The Glittering Court, #1)(93)

There was no time to have custom clothing made from the raw materials he sold, but there was plenty of ready-made attire in the store. The sizes were close enough to get me by for now, and adjustments could always be made later. I didn’t end up with an exact replica of Aiana’s attire, but it was pretty close. Wide-legged pants of soft suede that almost looked like a skirt when I stood. Plain, serviceable blouses and a knee-length leather coat to go over them when the weather turned cold. Sturdy gloves and boots with no embellishment.

“Sorry I can’t match the dresses you’re used to, but these’ll keep you a lot more comfortable.” Grant studied me a few moments more. “And a hat. You’ll want one for your skin—but I’m afraid it might not help much.” He produced a wide-brimmed leather one from behind the counter.

“Why not?” I asked.

“The weather’s more extreme. Those summer days’ll scorch you. What are you going to be doing out there? You might be okay if you’re doing chores inside.”

“I’m going to help pan for gold.”

He pondered this for a long moment, saying nothing. Finally, he took the hat back and produced one with a wider brim. “It’ll be brutal. Good luck.”

Once we were outside, Tamsin immediately asked, “What he said about it being brutal . . . Adelaide, are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to go to Hadisen?”

“I’m sure I want to be with Cedric,” I said simply. “And I’ll go down whatever path that involves. Besides, don’t you want to go to Hadisen?”

“Yes. And live in the governor’s mansion. Not a riverbed.”

Mira touched my arm as we were about to turn down the road that would lead us out of the city center to our carriage. “Look over there. By the bank.”

I followed her gaze. “Oh. Excuse me a moment.” I hurried across the thoroughfare and called, “Mister Adelton!”

Nicholas, who’d been about to walk into the building, turned in surprise. “Miss Bailey. I didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you’d be on your way to Hadisen.”

“Soon,” I said, feeling my cheeks flush. “I know Cedric talked to you, but I just had to come myself and say . . . well, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for what we put you through. You must feel so . . . I don’t know. Deceived.”

He grew thoughtful. “Not exactly. A little disappointed, perhaps . . . but honestly, I was more dazzled by you than in love with you. If you don’t take offense to that.”

“Not at all . . . we had only a few meetings.”

“Exactly. If I’d felt more, my reaction might have been different. But I could always tell there was something preoccupying you. So long as you were entering of your own free will, I didn’t mind. I figured it was the nature of these sorts of arranged marriages.”

“I would have done it of my own free will,” I said adamantly. “You’re a good man—the best I’ve met here.”

“Excepting young Mister Thorn, of course.” He smiled at my chagrin. “Don’t feel bad. I’m happy for you.”

I sighed. “That’s kind of you . . . but I can’t shake the feeling you’ve been used. You know, there are a number of other Glittering Court girls I could recommend—”

He held up a hand to silence me. “Thank you, but I’m done with making matches that sound good on paper. The more I think about your grand romance with Mister Thorn, the more I think I’m better off finding one of my own. No contracts.”

“I hope you find one,” I said earnestly.

He shook my hand. “Me too. And I wish you well. If I can ever be of service, let me know.”

“Who was that?” Tamsin asked when I returned to my friends.

“The man Cedric nearly married me off to.”

Tamsin peered behind me to get a better look. “Is he available?”

“Yes. But not that well off. Or really interested, after what Cedric and I put him through.”

I fell into step with Aiana while Mira trailed behind with Tamsin. “Mister Adelton seems to be taking things reasonably well,” Aiana said to me quietly.

“Everyone has. Well, not Jasper. And some of the girls are still holding it over me.” Clara in particular enjoyed telling the story of how she’d found Cedric and me in the attic to everyone she met. “But most people have been understanding, even when they probably shouldn’t be. Including Warren Doyle.”

Aiana took a long time to answer. “Yes. It certainly was understanding of him—making such an offer to you.”

I thought back to the shop and then cast a quick glance back to make sure Tamsin was still engaged with Mira. “His mother isn’t the most, ah, upstanding of women, but as for Warren, do you think he’s—well, I mean, should we—”

“I don’t know,” said Aiana. “I really don’t know much about Warren Doyle, short of gossip. What I do know is that when things sound too good to be true, well, they usually are.”

Uneasiness settled over me. “I tried telling that to Cedric. But he said even if there’s some ploy going on, we were better off taking our chances in Hadisen.”

“He may be right.” Aiana stopped walking to look me in the eye. “There’s more freedom there—but more danger too. It’s a fledgling land. An untamed land. And that makes it easier for people to break the rules. I wish you two the best, but . . .”