Page 7 of Stars May Burn

“Tar’ratha,” he whispered, his eyes wide and hands shaking.

To my surprise, the general grunted, shutting the carriage door quickly. He lifted the top of his seat to reveal a space for storing luggage. The man climbed into the space before my husband slapped the padded lid over him and sat back down with a bland expression as if nothing had happened. He knocked on the carriage wall with his knuckle to signify to the driver that we were ready to leave.

The carriage lurched. I opened my mouth before closing it again, my heartbeat pushing against the bones of the corset. Who was that man? I wanted to ask, but I didn’t want to start our marriage on the wrong foot. If my husband wanted me to know, he would have told me.

Maybe asking while the man was still in the carriage wasn’t the best time, anyway.

General Batton had wedged himself in the opposite corner to me, as if he was trying to sit as far away from me as possible. I tried to not feel the sting of the gesture. He pushed the curtains to one side to look over the streets with those intense, shadowed eyes, his expression serious yet relaxed. A group of men in city guard livery rushed past us. Another guard rode on horseback in the opposite direction, stopping passersby to peer under hoods or check beneath the awnings of carts.

They were searching for the man hiding beneath my husband’s seat.

The general atmosphere of excitement and disruption made it harder to breathe. If only I could take this ridiculous dress off. I needed to keep my wits sharp and engage my new husband with lively conversation, which wasn’t easy when the corset was making my stomach hurt and turning my legs numb.

The carriage rattled to an abrupt stop. My heart leaped into my throat. If they found the man in our carriage, we would be in serious trouble. Why was he running, and how did he know the general? I gritted my teeth. Regardless, I would play my part.

A sharp knock on the carriage door made me jump. General Batton swung it open with a deep scowl. “There had better be a good reason for this.” His low, slow tone of voice made the hairs down my spine stand up.

The guard paled and cleared his throat. “Terribly sorry to disturb you, General. We are, eh, looking for a man. We seek to catch him as a matter of urgency, you see.”

The general didn’t even blink as he glared at the man. “And what has that got to do with us on our wedding day?”

The guard seemed to shrink in on himself, licking his lips. “I’m sorry, my lord.” He turned to me and gave a small bow. “My lady. But have you seen anything…”

I put my hand to my forehead. “Forgive me, but I am feeling a sudden nausea. It must be the heat and all the excitement.” I lifted my eyes to General Batton’s. “Are we close? I hope to lie down soon. Maybe then you can return and help this good man look for the criminal?”

My husband’s expression darkened with a sour twist to his lips as he regarded the man.

The guard grew even paler, withering under his gaze. “That won’t be necessary. I won’t delay you further.” He took a step back from the carriage door. “I’m sorry for disturbing you. Please feel better soon, my lady.”

He barked out a command, and the street in front of us cleared, allowing us to set off even faster than before.

I startled as my husband tilted his head forward, his narrow, dark eyes studying my face. His scowl had gone. “Are you ill, Sophie?” He was tall enough that his head almost brushed the roof.

My mouth dried at the shock of hearing my name on his lips. I supposed we were married now, but it was peculiar to hear a stranger addressing me so informally.

I shook my head, reassuring him with a smile. “I’m quite all right, thank you. I merely wanted to quicken the guard’s departure.”

He chuckled with a lopsided smile that didn’t reach his eyes, but his posture relaxed as he leaned back. “Well, you certainly managed that. Don’t worry. Our stowaway won’t be with us much longer.”

He turned back to the window, his lips still curved in the first smile I’d ever seen on him, and I wished I could read his mind. I folded my gloved hands neatly in my lap. He wasn’t much of a conversationalist, and I could respect that.

After a few minutes of silence, we rounded a corner to a quieter street. “We’re spending the night in my townhouse on the outskirts of Highfair, then we’ll be leaving for home in the morning.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “We leave the city tomorrow?”

He nodded, still frowning out of the window. “I can’t stand it here in Adenburg. The noise, the people, the fuss. I hope you will like Kasomere. Things are much more tolerable there.” He turned to look at me with a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there a moment before. I wondered if it was the thought of returning home.

I smiled, glad to have found a subject that made him happy. “It sounds lovely. I look forward to seeing it.”

“I’ve asked for your belongings to be taken straight to Kasomere from Sir Halfield’s estate.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

We jolted as the carriage caught an uneven cobblestone. Pain lanced up my back and the ends of the corset bones spiked my skin. I thought of the poor man squashed within the seat. He had to be hot and very uncomfortable.

“You look pale.”

I snapped my attention back to the general with another practiced smile. “I assure you, I am fine.”

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