Page 47 of Trapped By Vengeance

One hand continues to hold her chin. My other braces the raft as I lean over her. Valda’s own hands are both on my chest, clutching my shirt like she’s the captor in our relationship who can’t let me go.

“Do you think this makes me more tolerable?” Valda murmurs against my jaw.

“Significantly.” I place my mouth back on hers.

She drifts to kiss my jawline. “And does it make you less chivalrous?”

I nibble at the corner of her mouth. “Terribly so.”

We’re in danger of falling overboard, but at this moment, I don’t care. I don’t care about anything but the sweet taste of Valda, the scents of lavender, violets, and bleeding heart, and her cool but perfect skin—

“Abi,what are you doing?”

Eloise’s word snaps me out of the spell I’ve fallen into, and I jerk away from Valda.

Unfortunately, we’ve moved a little closer to the edge of the raft than I realized. In my desperation to pull away from Valda, I accidentally push her overboard.

For a moment, I stare at the splashing water where Valda just was.

“Oh— I get it.” Eloise nods sagely. “You were getting revenge for her pushingyouoverboard.”

“Um . . . yes.”

Valda doesn’t emerge in the next moment, and I sigh.

Then I dive into the water to fish out a Baroness.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Valda

It is a good thing I am not actually affected by the cold, or all these recent soakings would be quite inconvenient. Especially since I cannot take off my heavy, sodden cloak and risk the real pain the sun would cause.

As it is, I have no choice but to look quite perturbed at Konrad as he leads a rented chestnut horse from the inn’s stable. There’s a grimace on Konrad’s face and almost no jingle in his leather pouch after spending so much coin.

I glance his way, still not sure if our last kiss— whichheinitiated— has finally allowed my gift to work its magic. He seems a lot more compliant, but he is also still mostly himself. Mayhap it is just the fact that he’s finally falling for my beauty that has gotten him to this point.

My beauty that is very sodden right now. I purse my lips and squeeze several water droplets out of my hair.

Konrad bunches his shoulders and grins sheepishly, the price he paid for his new steed forgotten.

I pretend to glare at him, even though I’m terrified inside. What if my scheme actually works and I lure him back to myfather’s home? Then what? Just end him like that? Unless I can somehow convince him to become my permanent thrall through something more lasting than kisses . . .

Eloise rolls her eyes and then leans toward me. “Don’t be too mad at him— he’s never had a reason to be charming before, so he’s out of practice.”

Konrad’s sheepish smile twists to a scowl as he turns to his daughter. “What are you doing? Giving away all my secrets?” With that, he hoists her over his shoulder.

She giggles.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Konrad says, spinning with her perched over his shoulder. “I don’t know how to be charming. So, I definitely can’t put a girl on a horse properly!” With that, he situates a still-giggling Eloise on the horse.

I can’t help but smile at the scene before I catch myself. I quickly paste on a perturbed expression.

Sir Pigeon descends from nowhere and perches on Eloise’s shoulder. She pets it happily.

Konrad shakes his head at it before turning to me, a smile still on his face from Eloise. And there’s a twinkle in his eyes I’m pretty sure I put there with my kiss.

Despite him allegedly not being very charming, just his expression coaxes my smile back.

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