“Release me,” Frederick said, his voice low and strained, though his eyes held Rowan’s with a steadiness that only made the fury burn hotter.
Rowan’s grip tightened in the fabric of his lapels, his jaw locked so hard the muscle jumped beneath his beard. “Where is my sister?”
Frederick’s mouth compressed, and for the first time, the charm fell entirely from his face. “Release me first.”
Rowan slammed him back again. “Do not bargain with me.”
Frederick’s mask cracked then, and beneath it stood a tired, guilty man Rowan almost did not recognize.
Frederick swallowed. “Remain here.”
Rowan looked back at him. “What?”
“Remain here,” Frederick said, quieter. “Do not follow me.”
Then, with a sudden wrench, he slipped free because Rowan’s grip had loosened with the shock of Emmeline’s face. Frederick left the room without another word.
Rowan stood there, breathing hard, the blood pounding so heavily in his ears that he almost missed the sound from the corridor.
“Let him go, brother.”
The voice was soft.
Rowan turned to see Juliet standing in the doorway.
For a moment, the world emptied.
She was thinner. Paler. Her dark hair was pinned back with none of its old care, and her gray eyes were red-rimmed, frightened. She looked like the little girl who used to creep into his room after their father’s anger had chilled the whole house.
The memory hit him so hard he nearly staggered. Then rage rushed in to fill the break.
“How long?” he asked.
Juliet’s lips parted. “Rowan?—”
“How long have you been here?”
She flinched. “Only a few days.”
“How long has he had you hidden?”
Frederick returned behind her, his face grim. “Since the wedding day.”
Rowan laughed once, but there was no humor in it. The sound felt torn from his chest.
“Since the wedding day,” he repeated. “While I sent men across the country. While Aaron asked for you. While scandal crawled over my house. You were with him.”
Juliet’s eyes filled. “I was afraid.”
“You were afraid?” His voice rose despite his attempt to control it. “You allowed me to search blindly because you were afraid?”
“She begged for help,” Frederick said. “She believed herself cornered.”
Rowan turned on him. “And you decided to lie to me.”
“I decided not to return a terrified woman to the very thing she had fled.”
“You decided for my family.”
