Page 83 of Tattered Edges

I didn’tdrink up, but hugged the mug to my chest as I pressed, “You told who we’d be where? Why are you being so cryptic?”

“That’s the nature of a surprise, darling.” He pressed a quick kiss to my lips before he stood and said, “I’m going to hop in the shower. We’ll leave in forty-five minutes or so.”

I opened my mouth to ask more questions, but no words came out as I watched him disappear into the bathroom. When I heard him turn on the water for his shower, I finally took a sip of my coffee, prepared precisely how I liked it.

I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of surprise he had planned. If I was honest, he didn’t strike me as a man who got into that sort of thing—but he did know how to plan a decent date, and it would have been a lie to say I wasn’t looking forward to whatever our morning had in store. It was rather exciting to learn my man of mystery had a depth of intrigue that was quite multifaceted.

As soon as he was finished with the shower, I took my turn.

The overnight bag I’d put together didn’t leave me with much of an option as to what I was going to wear that day, but Rory assured me my long-sleeved tee-shirt and jeans would be fine. I believed him mostly because he was dressed similarly.

At a quarter to ten, we made our way outside—our destination still a secret, seeing as he’d ordered an Uber rather than hailing a cab. Our ride was a short one, less than ten minutes, and when we got out on the corner across the street from Big Ben, I was still at a loss as to where we were going.

Rory took my hand, and I laced my fingers between his as he escorted me across the street, toward the Palace of Westminster. I’d walked by it once or twice before, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to go inside. It was still on my list of tourist destinations—but I was sure that wasn’t where we were going. Not on a Sunday. They didn’t offer tours on Sunday. I’d checked.

“Rory, are youevergoing to tell me where we’re going? The suspense is killing me.”

“Really? I thought by now it would be obvious.”

“Well, you’re not taking me to the House of Parliament. Not today.”

He glanced down at me with a crooked smile as he asked, “And why not?”

“Because—because it’s closed on Sunday.”

“To the general public, yes. I suppose you’re right.”

“Wait…” My voice trailed off as my feet stopped moving. Still holding onto me, it wasn’t long before Rory noticed and was forced to backtrack a step. “We’re—we’re going to the House of Parliament?”

He gave my fingers a squeeze as he replied, “You said it was on your list.”

“It is.”

“Right. Well, I know a guy who can get us in and take us on a private tour.”

My eyebrows shot up my forehead as my mouth fell open.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m not codding you,” he promised with a smirk. “I thought, after the week you’ve had, this might cheer you up.”

“Rory,” I breathed, completely at a loss for words. “I don’t know what to say.”

“If you could see the look on your face right now, you’d know you don’t have to say anything. Now, come on—we’ll be late otherwise.”

I squealed in excitement, tightening my grip around his hand as I followed his lead.

“For real, though, is there anyone youdon’tknow? Has the prince been to The King’s Steed?”

“No. Not yet. But I do know a Beefeater.”

Of course, he did.

Two Weeks Later

IwokeonSundaymorning to the chiming of St. Paul’s Cathedral’s bells.

The sheets covering my nakedness smelled of Rory and me. We didn’t spendeverynight together—but my memory was hazy about the last time we hadn’t. Most of the time I wound up in his bed, but he’d graced mine a couple of nights, too.

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