Page 77 of My Noble Disgrace

“Wow, am I bad,” said Lachlan. “Dancing with only one good arm isn’t easy.”

“Nonsense!” said Cait with a grin. “You danced just as badly as you do with both arms.”

Lachlan pulled her in and kissed her hard on the mouth, Cait reaching around to pull him in, the two of them entangled as if they’d forgotten any sense of urgency or propriety.

“Let’s go,” I said, pulling Cait along.

“Already?” said Lachlan, his eyes locked on Cait’s.

A flash of envy burned through me. I wished Graham would look at me like that. Maybe he had—for a moment—but that moment was gone.

Black and white uniforms in the entrance hall caught my eye.

I turned and headed out the front door.

Once outside, we crossed the grounds, Cait and I holding our heavy skirts as we hurried down the stone path. The torches burned low, leaving only a faint light to guide us.

A few nobles dotted the path, but when they looked at us, it was only to admire our gowns or hair before turning back totheir conversations. Some greeted Graham and tried to slow him down with small talk, but he politely continued onward.

We slowed as we approached the gates, and the guards opened them for us without question. Outside in the avenue, dozens of Enforcers prowled, oblivious to the fact that we were exactly who they should be hunting.

Cael’s carriage, recognizable by the pair of upright eels on the door signifying the Eleventh House, was parked across the street, the horses hoofing the ground impatiently. I hoped it would take me to my father, even though I hadn’t fulfilled my end of the bargain. Either way, I had little choice but to get inside.

I went to it, Cait and Lachlan beside me. Graham was close behind, managing to look calm and composed as if he were simply sending off his houseguests rather than helping criminals escape.

As we approached Cael’s carriage, the driver, a woman with short hair and a plain gray skirt that didn’t quite cover her ankles, regarded us with mild curiosity from her seat.

“Sir Ruskin sent us,” I said, trying to suppress the nervousness in my voice.

“What’s the password?” the driver asked.

Graham and I looked at each other. He seemed equally surprised by the question.

“Um . . .” I hesitated, racking my brain for what Cael would’ve possibly chosen for a password.

The woman broke into laughter. “That was a joke. I know who you are, Sir Brennin. I’ve got Sir Ruskin’s orders to take two of you”—she lowered her voice in a mock whisper—“and I don’t even have to check for rank cards.”

I opened the carriage door, about to climb in. “Wait,” I said, gesturing to Cait and Lachlan. “They’re with us too.”

“My apologies,” she said, “but I was specifically instructed to takeonlytwo people, not four.”

Fear crept into Lachlan’s eyes, but Cait looked stoic.

“I can pay,” said Graham.

“Of course you can, Sir Brennin. That’s what the Brennins do best! But that doesn’t change the orders I’ve been given. I can only take two.”

I backed away from the carriage, toward Cait. I wished I could bring them, but with the carriage being Cael’s, it wasn’t my choice to make, especially if I wanted Cael to remain unaware that Cait was here in the city.

“Then I’m not going either,” I said.

“You are,” said Graham firmly. “You will go both on Sir Ruskin’s ordersandon mine.”

I glared at him, shocked. I leaned in and lowered my voice. “On what authority?”

“I’ll be king in a matter of days,” he said.

“But you’re not king yet.”

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