Page 82 of The Swindler’s Daughter

“A soldier,” he corrected, then turned his eyes toward the cottage where Falstone and his family lived. “I’m glad he’s back. We’re all getting rusty.”

I cut my eyes over to Rowan and found him looking at me. He and I weren’t dependent on training with Falstone, and I knew that Rowan didn’t consider himself rusty, but neither of us said anything.

When I looked back at John, his eyes narrowed a little bit. “And what about you lot? What are you going to do when Sir James and Princess Marilee return?”

I shrugged. “Start working again.”

We all chuckled at that.

19

Two weeks later, we awaited the arrival of Sir James and Princess Marilee. I didn’t know how the others felt about their imminent arrival but my insides were knotted. Emeline had tried to reassure me that Sir James and Her Highness would be understanding and even proud of what I and the others had accomplished, but I simply didn’t know them well enough to be confident in such things.

I needn’t have worried. They arrived in a flurry of carriages, trunks, squeals, and chatter. Marilee hugged Emeline and Beatrice and squeezed the hands of many of the other servants. I stayed near the back of the gathering, doing my best to be invisible, but she still managed to catch my eye and give me a warm smile.

Clearly they didn’t have any idea what had transpired while they were gone.

They went inside and proceeded to resettle themselves back into their home, and I happily escaped to the kitchen.

It wasn’t until after the evening meal that Princess Marilee came into the kitchen with a determined step. She stopped just in front of me, where I was kneading a ball of dough for tomorrow’s bread, and set her hands on her hips. “You, my dear, have quite the story to tell.”

I felt the blood drain from my face, leaving it cold and numb.

“Oh heavens!” she exclaimed and reached across the counter to grab my hand. “Don’t go fainting. I just wanted to hear of your adventures. Come sit down.” She kept a hold of my hand from across the counter and carefully led me out from behind it and to a chair. “Gracious,” she said to Emeline, who had fetched me a cup of water. “Am I that intimidating?”

I calmed myself easily enough once I realized that she really was there to hear a good story and not to reprimand me. As she sat across the table from me, her attention rapt, I told her the whole of the story and watched as the shock, indignation, and anger played out across her face.

“I told you,” she said to Emeline, who had joined us. “Did I not tell you all? Cecily and I knew that he was an unworthy choice for the position, but I had no idea the lengths to which he would go.” Her indignation was gratifying.

When I got to the part about Lord Edmund Rockwell having returned to Bridgefield for good, her eyes went immediately in that direction, though there was nothing but trees to see out the window. “Lord Rockwell has returned, then?” she asked quietly.

I nodded.

“That will be a change.” She didn’t expound and was soon called away by Seraphina.

The next day, Oliver and I ended up telling the tale to Cecily and Falstone as we were gathered in the yard. Cecily’s reaction was less effusive than Marilee’s. She became quiet but her eyes and her jaw hardened with the telling of it, and Falstone had to reach over and unclench her fists at one point. Still, there was clear approval in her eyes once I’d finished.

Over the coming days, I noticed that I felt an odd connection with both Cecily and Marilee that I hadn’t felt before. I’d always remained a bit outside of the inner circle of women who had come from Bridgefield, but after I’d shared my story with them, our relationship shifted. It was a bit startling though certainly not unwelcome. I was starting to feel like I had more family than just Hunter. I had Emeline and Nellie. I had Rowan. And now, I might even have Cecily and Princess Marilee. Not a bad collection for a girl whose father didn’t want her.

***

Sir James and Princess Marilee had been back for a week. The house was once again filled with the squeals and cries of little Gabriella, as well as the (sometimes demanding) tones of Seraphina.

Marilee’s ecstasy over hearing that Emeline was expecting could be heard throughout the entire house. It was a good thing that she and Hunter weren’t trying to keep it a secret.

Life was busy again but not overwhelming. The market had returned to the bustling, pleasant experience it had been before Reeve’s lawless reign. The duke and duchess had returned to the capitol, but because Lord Rockwell and his wife remained behind, John and the other Bridgefield servants continued to be busy, so we saw far less of them.

Rowan continued to teach me the finer points of archery, though that was sometimes interrupted by what Rowan referred to as “being a dutiful suitor,” wherein he talked with, teased, kissed, and entertained me in many varied ways.

I didn’t deserve him. He was everything I could have ever hoped for and I eagerly awaited the day when he could stop merely being my suitor. But for now, I was happy to simply be with him as I nocked an arrow and drew it back.

My stance was much more confident than it had been four months ago. My hand was steadier as well—at least until Rowan stepped up behind me. He placed a hand at my waist and I rolled my shoulder as a shiver skittered down my spine.

“Everything all right?” he asked before pressing a kiss to the side of my neck.

I grinned. “Everything is perfect.” I refocused my aim and released the arrow on an exhale.

Then I threw an elbow back, hitting Rowan in the stomach.