Page 58 of Gilded Locks

That was a question Grace was definitely not going to answer. “I’ll find somewhere.”

“Hang on, Robbins, I think we ought to give that to Uncle Gustav. It’s evidence he can use to find the culprit.”

Grace was arguing before Willa finished her statement. “He already took a look. He must not have deemed it important.”

“Well, I doubt he saw it dothat.”

Grace looked to Willa, then to the frond she pointed at, which now had two more golden leaves. These new ones differed in shape. While still leaf-like, the curve of the blade resembled wings.

Grace let out a puff of air. She shouldn’t have shooed the butterfly, she should have caught it. Too late now.

“It’s amazing.” Garrick’s voice held a smooth awe that sent the hair of Grace’s arms standing on end. Such sweetness shouldn’t come from the mouth of a Clairmont. It made him seem gentle.

Where were her parents? She was clearly exhausted past the point of logic. She needed backup, and someone to give a clear reason why the gold couldn’t go to the sheriff.

“We just can’t give it to the sheriff.”

Oh yeah, Grace. That’s going to convince them.

Why was she making a big deal of it, anyway? All she had to do was wait for her parents to come and help gather the gold, then they could just take it. Three Protectors against two Clairmont relatives—her family would have no trouble coming out victors.

Yes, that would work.

What did a little obvious defiance hurt? Garrick already knew Grace intended to abscond with the gold, so the sheriff would find out. That was how it worked.

Except, had the sheriff ever learned of her and Garrick’s encounter in the Kavanah home? When Grace received the warning from the Rogue about her family being in danger, she had assumed Garrick was trying to discover something about her family. But the first strike against the Robbinses had been a targeted increase of taxes. It had nothing to do with Garrick following her.

Was it possible Garrick hadn’t told his father?

Grace glared at Garrick. “Why have you been following me?” she asked him.

He flinched in shock. “What?”

“At the market. You went to every store I did, or nearly. Bought her”—Grace motioned to Willa—“the dress I was admiring. You had candy from the same store as my brother. And the stationary stall. You were following me.”

Garrick coughed and averted his eyes. There was the usual snob.

Willa started to laugh. A deep, shoulder-shaking laugh.

Grace frowned at Willa. The girl looked at her cousin, something passed between them, and she stopped laughing, but not without effort.

“I wasn’t really following you,” Garrick said.

“Oh, that sounds convincing.”

Garrick sighed.

“Are you going to tell her?” Willa said. “Cause she is just going to keep asking.”

Garrick glared at his cousin, but finally sniffed and stood tall.

“I thought you might be more willing to interact with me when there wasn’t a dance involved.”

“You wanted to… talk to me. About what?”

Willa snorted. “Come on, Robbins. You’re not that dense. He asks you to dance every month.”

“Willa…” Garrick growled.

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