Page 98 of Legacy of Roses

Rosalie handed it over, and Daphne turned it this way and that, examining it.

“A delicate piece,” she said neutrally as she handed it back to Rosalie. “I’m filled with curiosity as to how you acquired it.”

“Avery,” Rosalie said as if the single name was enough to explain. And from Daphne’s knowing laugh, perhaps it was.

Rosalie looked toward him. “It came from Oakden.”

Dimitri’s eyebrows rose into his hairline. A sleeping weapon. He should have thought of it at once. But since he had been focused on learning about Glandore, he had only seen the weapons mentioned once or twice in passing. He was definitely going to need the story of how it had come into Rosalie’s possession.

“Well done,” he said to the triplets, and all three of them swelled with pride, clearly relieved at having had the chance to redeem themselves.

Tramping boots outside interrupted their conversation. Dimitri stepped toward Rosalie, but the fleeing swordsman gave a loud cry of alarm from the front steps. The new arrivals weren’t allies for Jace.

Dimitri strode over to the door.

“Guards,” he reported to the rest of them.

Rosalie and the triplets looked as confused as he felt at the arrival of the unexpected visitors. But Daphne nodded placidly.

“I suppose they got my note,” she said.

“You sent someone a note?” Rosalie asked. “How?”

“There wasn’t time to send it. But after I roused the twins and directed them into the woods, I stayed just long enough to scribble a note for your mother. I left it in the house for when she returned, with instructions for her to send the guards to the manor. She must have found it.”

Rosalie stared at her blankly. “But my mother left Thebarton to visit my sisters. It was a ruse from Jace, but even so, she couldn’t have gotten there and back so quickly.”

“Perhaps she realized it was a ruse for herself,” Daphne suggested.

“That sounds like Mother,” Vernon agreed.

Oscar, however, wasn’t listening. He pointed at the chest, now sitting abandoned on the entryway floor, its lid flung open.

“If the guards are coming, what are we going to do about that?” he asked. “I’m guessing we don’t want to draw attention to it.”

He was right, but it was a heavy chest, and they only had seconds before the guards arrived. Dimitri looked around blankly for something to throw over it, but Daphne was already moving.

Flipping it closed, she sank gracefully down beside it, crossing her arms over the lid. Laying her head on them as if they were a pillow, her eyes fluttered closed. Within seconds she was breathing steadily as if asleep. Her body and gown didn’t entirely conceal the chest, but they obscured it enough to make it a barely noticeable piece of furniture.

The guards pushed open the door, loudly calling for Dimitri.

“We heard there was trouble,” the captain said gruffly as he stepped inside. “And we found this gentleman fleeing the sce…” His voice trailed off as he caught sight of the two collapsed men.

“Thank you for your prompt attendance,” Dimitri said formally. “Unfortunately, I’ve been attacked in my home atthis early hour and have been forced to defend myself and my guests.”

The guards filing in behind the captain exchanged surprised looks, but they responded readily, securing the sleeping men’s hands just as they started to rouse.

“What are you doing?” Jace cried when he woke to find his hands being tied behind him. All his usual charm evaporated as he babbled in panic. “It’s all a misunderstanding. I’m family! I’m just visiting my family! I’m?—”

The captain hauled him to his feet, shaking him by the collar until the flow of words ceased.

“Don’t you try your bamboozling tricks on us,” he said. “You’re Jace, and we know you well enough in these parts. Plenty of guards have been spoiling to get their hands on you—and some of the townsfolk as well. So you’d best stop complaining and thank us instead. I warrant you’ll be glad of our protection soon enough. There are some who would be happy to take the law into their own hands where you’re concerned. Clifford employed plenty of people, so it wasn’t only his family you ruined.” He nodded respectfully toward Rosalie and her brothers, although he was clearly confused by their presence.

“And what about her? Is she one of the perpetrators?” another guard asked, pointing toward Daphne.

“Oh, no,” Dimitri said quickly. “She’s one of my guests.”

The guard leaned over for a closer look. “Is she…sleeping?” He looked astonished for a moment before his face cleared. “Oh, it’s only Daphne. Well, then, it looks like that’s the lot of them. Sir?” He looked at his captain for instructions.

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