r, and she turned tow

cess what was happening, he claimed her arm and whisked her away with such ease it was as though he had don

hat had just happened. He looked calm and composed, his grip firm but not forcef

ke he could shield her from anything-even the relentless judgment of a r

spent much time im

had

es inside. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it

re the only light came from the soft glow of lanterns

asked, his voice calm b

es, of course. Thank you for stepping in back there. I thought I m

for her, his lips twitchi

was half a laugh, half exasp

thing together. "You shouldn't push yourself so hard. They'll take whate

mitted. "They just kept coming, one after

always had," he said s

. There was no accusation in his tone, just an observat

out convincing them,

to respond. Did he mean the

carefully. "It's impo

," he echoed, his

vening breeze. His eyes bore into hers, piercing and unrelenting, and she shifted unc

tion somewhere lighter. "Did you have fun? Two months without me breathing down

d. "Fun?" he repeated, his voice low, tinged with something raw. "No, D.

t her like a

in. I came every day, hoping-begging-to see you, but your parents wouldn't even let me through the door." He e

was gone, and here she was, pretending to be her. His fiancée, the woman he clearly loved, was de

If he learned she wasn't Adelaide?

the cold. He noticed instantly. "You'

d quickly, trying to sou

nwavering. Then he nodded. "Alright. Let's sit over th

l grab my jacket. I don't want you freezing to death on me." His tone wa

they care. And as she made her way to the bench, a thought crept into her mind. How fragile had

cool air felt refreshing, a welcome contrast to the suffocating months she'd spent indoo

k like from now on? Would she still be confined to her room, constantly monitored? Had she finall

hasty retreat, Mr. Whitlock trailing after her. What ha

er when something soft and w

ket closer. The faint, masculine scent o

ate. Then a voice-low and smooth with a hint of

voice was deeper, richer, with a warmth that felt like home. This voice... This

figure stepped into view. Her

from earlier, the one whose

ewhere between playfulness and desperation, like he'

e she could stop herself, her voice

mirk deepening as if he

trying to inject authority into her tone,

tically over his chest. "I thou

sk but decided against it. This is definitely a

long? She wasn't equipped to navigate this exchange. She hadn't prepared for it, and t

possessive. "It feels good to sit with you again," he said, leaning back slightly as if t

of his words. What was happening? Why was she having this conversation a

ike she was running away? Would Adelaide have stayed? And

th something raw and bittersweet. "The past two months you were bedridden, I sat unde

Did this mean Adelaide had been... toying with two men? No, no, no. Please, no. That couldn't be it. She couldn't be p

in, silently begging for Ax

pause, he turned back, his exp

lief and unease washing over her in equal meas

said, his tone flat,

she didn't like. Just as the thought crossed her mind, the man beside her-Nathan G

for an exit strategy as Nathan leaned ba

ling back into place, "looks lik