JACE
The carriage ride with Penelope was not unpleasant. She sat across from reading a book while I looked through maps of the region where fighting had broken out. Once the carriage got onto the main road, the ride was much smoother, and I could make notes.
The Capital was a good six hours from Amaranth Manor, so we stopped midway through the journey to rest the horses and have a al.
The bitter Penelope of the night before had disappeared. The Penelope I had known for seven years was once again my companion, and I admit I found this version a lot more charming.
By the ti we reached the Capital, Penelope had accepted my offer to find her a husband. Her banter was lively and appropriate. She was quiet when necessary. And she smiled at when I caught her eye.
"Where shall I stay?" she asked as the carriage entered the gates of the Capital. "An inn, perhaps?"
"You’ve stayed at my house ofen enough," I said. "You can rest in the second-floor guest room as before. Arranging a marriage is no small affair, so it will take so ti. I will give you a dowry, and money for a decent wedding. You’ll be satisfied, I promise."
Penelope nodded. "Very well. Should I plan to have dinner with you? Or make my own arrangents?"
"Arrangents?"
"I an, take a al in the city. There are several restaurants near your living quarters. Or I can have the chef prepare a al for the both of us if you think you’ll be ho by then."
The idea of Penelope wandering the Capital by herself didn’t sit right with . Especially not if she were going to marry soon. I didn’t want her potential husband to think he had a wayward wife.
"Dinner at ho," I decided. "I don’t know how long I’ll be at headquarters, but I will try to make it ho for a al. Will that do?"
"I’ll see to it."
"I’ll drop you off at the house then with a footman. He can carry your luggage for you. I sent notice ahead of ti so the servants will be expecting you."
She nodded. "See you later then."
Hos in the Capital were side-by-side with no more than a body’s width of space between them. The house was one of several on Canter Lane, one of the more upperclass areas in the city.
I watched the sway of Penelope’s dress as she went into the house, the footman carrying her luggage following her inside.
I had been prepared for Penelope to pout and whine given her behavior the night before. It seed she had thought things through and ca to the right conclusions.
"Let’s go to headquarters," I called to the driver.
"Yes, sir."
***|***|***
PENELOPE SHIRE
I told the staff I was going to the nearby tea shop. No one paid any mind. Typical. They thought I was one of them. For what was a mistress but a servant in bed?
I wasn’t even a mistress.
Just a woman without a title who’d followed a fickle-hearted man for too many years. I thought Jace Willowmarch was a high branch I could climb. He was rich, but not titled. He rose in the ranks fairly quickly.
I knew when I picked him out of all the n at the military camp that he was the best of the bunch.
I’d paid a hunter from my village, a drunkard with little else to live for than booze and woman, to aim that arrow at Jace.
I had intended for the arrow to hit my shoulder. But that jackass almost killed . The arrow struck too close to my heart. I nearly bled out, and after I healed, my heart retained a weakness that could not be overco.
Even though I had intended to beco his savior, I’d wanted more. I thought that when we had co of age, he would propose. Shouldn’t he? I’d saved his life. He should marry .
But no. He’d rather honor that stupid family marriage with a woman he didn’t even like. It was infuriating.
I’d made sure Jace beca reliant on . Hadn’t I developed a personality he liked? Dressed the way he liked? Simp the way he liked? As long as I did everything HE liked, he would keep near.
I’d been so close to the prize. Ever since we returned to Amaranth Manor, I’d spent all my ti hamring how awful Sophia was. And she didn’t help her cause, either. She was insecure. Timid. Stupid. So easy to push around.
And Jace never took her side in anything. He’d spent too much ti with and not enough with her. I’d worked hard to make sure people rembered us together. Didn’t correct those who assud I was his wife. Attended every event as his companion.
But then that damned Hunter’s Ball.
Sophia showed up looking like a celestial being. Jace was imdiately enamored, along with the rest of those idiot n. It was like they’d never seen a woman before.
Bitterness filled my heart as I hailed a cab. I climbed inside the open carriage and told the driver where to go. He gave a long look. "You sure you wanna go there?"
"I’m sure."
He snapped the reins and the horse started on its way.
Last night, Jace had made it clear he would never let go of Sophia. He was ready to shove into another man’s arms and pretend like I didn’t exist.
So he thought he would go off with his new bride and live happily-ever-after?
Hah.
The cool air chilled and I wrapped my cloak tighter around . It took half an hour for the driver to finally arrive at the wharf. A fishy, salt-tinged sll drifted from the ocean beyond.
"We’re here, miss."
This particular area was the red-light district. I saw the establishnt I was looking for, and tapped the driver’s shoulder. "This is fine." I paid him and climbed out of the carriage.
I had no qualms at all.
I walked right into that den of sin.
Because everything I needed to bind Jace Willowmarch to was in there.
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