Page 232 of Lady of Ashes

“And Lord Lairwood will be dining with my father tonight,” Callan said from her side.

“This is going to work,” Tava said as though she were trying to convince herself.

“Promise you will stay with one of us the entire time,” Callan said. She glanced up at him. “I promise, Callan,” she replied softly.

He nodded, resisting the urge to reach up and run his knuckles along her cheek.

It had been a week since the disaster that had happened in the slums, since she had agreed to consider trying to make this more than some act.

He had asked her to let him know when she’d made her decision, but as of this moment, she still hadn’t even hinted at it. She continued on with the ruse— meeting with his mother, making wedding preparations, making public appearances with him.

He shoved all those thoughts aside when Sloan and Finn entered the room, cloaks on and weapons in place. With all the Lairwoods out, they were going to the estate tonight. Drake wouldbe getting them in, pretending he was stopping to get something for the Lord on his way to the castle, and then they would search. They were each taking a ?oor. Finn was taking the main, Sloan the basement, Drake the second ?oor, and he was taking the top ?oor. Tava would join one of them.

“Take any spirit amulet you happen to come across,” Tava said, taking the gloves back from Callan. “It does not matter what it looks like. If you ?nd one, pocket it. We will leave it up to Scarlett to determine what she needs.”

“Remind me why we are doing the work of thieves,” Sloan grumbled. “We need to start somewhere,” Tava said, unfazed by his sour attitude.

“Clear as many rooms as you can in the time frame.”

They had agreed to two hours. Even that would be pushing it. Finn had pushed for only an hour, but they had argued that was barely enough time to get started.

“If you get any feelings of unease, anything at all, you leave,” Finn cut in, looking pointedly at Callan.

“Understood,” Callan agreed, swinging his cloak over his shoulders as Tava pulled her hood up.

They exited out the side door of the conservatory, leaving tracks in the slushy snow that had fallen. He had weapons strapped to his waist, and even Tava had a dagger down her boot. She had surprised him when she’d said Scarlett had shown her some basic maneuvers with the weapon. Nothing fancy, but she knew how to hold it and how to angle it if needed.

They had decided to forego the carriage in case they needed to make a quick escape. He wasn’t too worried about that. He was the Crown Prince. It was unlikely he would be questioned, and if he was … Well, he was the Crown Prince. It wouldn’t much matter if Lord Lairwood himself discovered him snooping through his home.

He helped Tava onto his horse before swinging up behind her, pulling her back into the cradle of his hips. She relaxed back against his chest, his arm wrapping around her middle.

“I have a dress ?tting tomorrow,” she said softly, her hands holding onto the pommel of the saddle while the horses made their way down the streets.

“Oh?” he asked, keeping his own voice low.

“It is an odd feeling. To be selecting a wedding dress for a fake wedding.”

“That is an understandable way to feel about it,” he agreed.

The supposed wedding was still six months away, to be held in early fall. Even if she agreed to try to make something work between them, he still wouldn’t want a wedding that soon. He wanted time to get to know her, really get to know her. He wanted those secret meet-ups, the stolen moments, the peaceful afternoons of just being together.

She cleared her throat, shifting slightly against him. “I know you are likely anxious for an answer from me,” she said cautiously.

Andthathad him straightening behind her, listening intently, but he said nothing. Just waited.

“Nothing would really change,” she was saying. “At least not publicly. It would still need to be believed that we have really fallen in love. But the private moments would be …”

She trailed off, uncertainty sounding in her voice.

“They would be real,” he ?nished for her. “But even then, nothing needs to change, Tava. I do not want you to change. Be just as candid. Be just as compassionate. I want to see it all.”

“That is unnerving,” she murmured under her breath, but he heard it and huffed out a low chuckle.

He bent down so he could speak into her ear. “Is that an agreement, then? To end the ruse and make it real, little fox?”

He knew if he could see her face, her cheeks would be tinged pink with a blush.

“I suppose it is,” she agreed quietly.

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