Emmaline forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look too strained. “Oh, um, yes.” She smoothed her hands down her dress, willing herself to appear casual. “Sorry, I don’t recognize you. Did you take the class?”
The officer chuckled, though there was a slight awkwardness to it. “I didn’t. My family’s secretary handles all that for me.”
Of course. A noble.
She should have known by the polished way he carried himself. No doubt the dead Lady’s family would want one of their own involved in the investigation. A missing Lady was too delicate a matter to leave to the rabble.
She weighed her words before carefully venturing, “So… uh… what’s going on? Another stolen stallion?”
It was a gamble. Nobles weren’t known for sharing details with those outside their circles, but her connection to Cassidy and her work at Rider School might be enough to coax a response. If nothing else, it might make him want to reassure her.
She held her breath, waiting for his answer.
“Not a horse this time.” The Patrol officer shifted on his feet. His fingers tapped at his side before he leaned in. “Do you promise to keep it to yourself?”
Ahhh. He was young.Emmaline barely held back a smirk. He was practically bursting to tellsomeone.
She widened her eyes and gave him the most eager yet demure smile she could muster. “Of course!”
Lowering his voice, he whispered, “House Allistair’s eldest daughter has gone missing.”
“Oh my. That doesn’t sound good.” She cast a pointed glance up at the castle. “What are you doing here, then? I can’t imagine Lady Isolde losing track of such an important guest.”
The officer huffed out a laugh. “What? Oh—no, we don’t think the Lord and Lady lost track of anyone.”
She studied him, barely hiding her disbelief. He was being shockingly free with information. Either he was incredibly new, or he had no sense of how investigations were supposed to work.
Then, as if holding the secret was unbearable, he leaned in even closer, practically vibrating with energy. “She was last seen with Lord Caelith.”
Emmaline’s stomach clenched.
She lifted a hand back to her lips, lowering her voice as if scandalized. “And you think he’s done something to her?”
“Certainly not!” The officer jerked upright, clearly startled by the suggestion.
She exhaled in relief.
“Greymane House is perfectly respectable,” he added, then looked to the bag slung over her shoulder and the crisp white of her uniform. “Which you should know, working here and all.”
Shite.
Emmaline forced an easy laugh, taking a small step back. “You’re right, of course. Silly me. I’ve been reading too many human crime novels. Clearly, they’ve muddled my thinking.” She swatted her headas if chastising herself. “Thank goodness the Vale would never have to concern itself with something as crass as nobles abducting one another.”
The young officer’s shoulders loosened, looking somewhat mollified.
“Yes, well, we just want to see—”
“Close that gaping hole, officer.”
The command sliced through the conversation, and both of them snapped toward the castle.
An older Patrol officer stepped into view, his expression carved from stone, his uniform adorned with the sigils of rank. Beside him, Lady Isolde strode with her usual air of quiet authority.
“We do not share details of an investigation with potential suspects.”
Emmaline’s stomach dropped. “Potential suspects?” She looked between the two officers, pulse hammering. “I haven’t done anything! I’ve never even met anyone from House Allistair!”
The young officer paled, looking down at his hands.
