Page 58 of To Love

“It is a complicated situation,” Darien said. “But not a hopeless one. There is always hope, Alden. Just be honest with her. With yourself. It will work out, in the end.”

Another thing about Darien. He was an eternal optimist. Unfortunately, Alden did not share in his optimism.

“When I think of any other man touching her . . .” he said, the thought one Alden had been increasingly imagining every time he allowed his mind to wander. To remember she was not truly his. “I cannot.” He looked up.

“Aye. Because you love her. ’Tis obvious.”

Alden did not argue the point. How could he?

“There is naught to be done,” he said, the truth of his words slamming into him with the force of an anvil. Not wishing to think about it any longer, he said, “There was someone, in the shadows.”

Darien looked around them. “Where?”

“Both when I left for Elara’s chambers and returned.”

“In truth, I did not expect you to come back so quickly.”

“She was asleep and did not hear me knocking. I thought there was a figure, but dismissed it. When I returned, I was certain of it and followed them.”

“A wise decision given you’ve no reason yourself to be anywhere but abed?”

“Perhaps. Perhaps not. They ran toward the servants’ quarters. I saw only a flash of light blue, a gown, around the corner. But then, they were gone. I assume ’twas a servant.”

“Lila?”

“I do not know. Perhaps. Even so, for what purpose? ’Twas the opposite direction of Father Percival’s chambers.”

The men fell silent until Alden said what they likely both were thinking. “We cannot solve this now. Let us sleep, and we can tell Elara on the morrow.” He was about to head back inside when Darien stopped him. With his fingers to his mouth, to keep silent, he pointed to the end of the darkened corridor.

Alden looked but saw nothing.

At first.

But there it was, a slip of blue. The same gown as the woman he’d followed. It was small, and slight, and Alden was not certain how his friend had seen it. He had the vision of an expert archer, but still . . .

Darien held up his hand, three fingers extended.

He brought one down.

They would go together, apparently. This time, she would not get away.

Darien brought another finger down.

Alden nodded.

One more finger, and they ran.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

Elara turned onto her side.

It was the second time that night she awoke. Most often, she slept peacefully. It was only after Alden, and the happenings with the traitor, that Elara had begun to wake and think of such things. Earlier, she’d done so, with the faint notion that there was some reason to wake, but eventually, she had gone back to sleep.

She tried again to do so now, thinking of the conversation she’d had with Evelina and Amalia some days ago.

“Of course you are welcome to tell me ’tis none of my concern,” Evelina had said. “But you and Alden.”