Page 57 of The Thornwyck Rose

His answer came slowly—his nose crossed hers as he closed the tiny space between them. “Yes. Tomas is posted. No one else.”

Her heart went wild in her chest. Lord Henry had never truly kissed her, and she only imagined how tender Erik’s kiss would be. She gathered his surcoat in her fist at his chest. Her lips parted, but at the last moment, she couldn’t let him bring ruin to them both.

“I must go,” she whispered, her breath brushing his lips,trying to undo what she had done. She hated herself for both asking the question the way she did and for ending what he was about to bestow upon her.

He stopped, brow furrowed.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Before someone notices.”

“Lady Seren, I . . . ”

He pulled her tighter against him. Their breath warmed her nose and cheeks. He was so close. Their lips could brush, and she didn’t know if she could resist him if they did.

A thousand words rushed through his eyes, but he only spoke two.

“Be careful.”

Her heart betrayed her resolve. She pressed into his embrace, staring into his soul as they breathed the same air. He hadn’t pulled away.

“Erik,” she whispered, not sure what would come out of her mouth next.

A few shuffles echoed from above. Whatever spell held them cracked.

He released her slowly, his fingers slipping across her back, grazing her side as she stepped past him. In the dim light, he handed her the bowl, concern written plainly across his brow.

She continued down and heard his footfalls behind her. He probably wondered why she was going downstairs in the first place.

He stopped as she entered the great hall and down the corridor, hurrying her steps. She told herself he was only there to ensure her safety.

Tomas dipped his chin to her as she quickly slipped into the nursery.

A few moments later, after she’d tucked the bowl and cloth with David’s care items, she heard Erik’s voice.

“Did Lady de Thornwyck come this way?”

Tomas responded, “No.”

“If you’re going to lie, at least use some truth, because you never know what the other person knows. The correctresponse, ‘I have not seen her.’ That lie might save your life. The other will get you killed.”

“Yes, Commander. Why are you looking for Lady de Thornwyck?”

“Don’t ask questions unless you want to carry the answers, Tomas. Keep to your duties.”

Seren glanced at the tapestry, but realized she couldn’t just leave Erik searching for her. She also wondered at Erik’s behavior. Why openly challenge trust with Tomas? Unless he trusted Tomas, too.

She rose and went to the corridor to avoid waking the nursemaids and the children, opening the door to find Erik there.

“I was worried about you,” Erik whispered. “You need an escort, especially to get back to your room, with Henry’s guards.”

Seren gauged Tomas’s distance from the shadows on the wall. He was far enough away. “There is a hidden stair between my room and the nursery,” Seren whispered, reaching to cup his face. Her fingers stroked his beard. “Tell no one of it, please, my friend.”

At the use of “friend,” he nodded with a clenched jaw. “Your secret is mine,” he said.

His gloved hand covered hers, anchoring it to his cheek for a moment too long.

She let it linger—long enough to feel warmth through the leather, long enough to wish it were bare skin.

“We are leaving in the morning. A six-month campaign,” he said, brushing his thumb over her fingers, so soft she barely noticed.