Page 104 of A Tempest of Shadows

“I’m not sure if he knew it was me or not.”

“Then there’s no reason to refresh his memory by going up there now. Wait and see what happens.”

My gaze went back to the carriage in front of the manor. A second later, the footman stepped down from the back of the vehicle and walked a couple of paces before stopping to wait for my mother to close the distance between them.

My hand tightened on Scarlet’s as annoyance filled me. We weren’t part of the aristocracy, but neither was the footman, and my mother deserved more respect than that asshole was showing her.

My mother closed the distance between them and stopped in front of the man. As they spoke, my mother’s hand started waving in the air. I could tell she was getting agitated, but eventually, she turned and beckoned me forward.

“I have to go,” I said to Scarlet. “This is about me.”

Scarlet squeezed my hand. “You don’t know what this is about.”

“Yes, I do.”

“No. He might not know it was you in his son’s room. He could be here for… ah… I don’t know, but don’t do anything stupid.”

“I won’t,” I promised, but we both knew why the duke was here.

“You’re not going without me.”

“You should stay.”

“No.”

I knew it was pointless to argue with her; I’d follow her to Hell and back, and she’d do the same for me. I hoped this wouldn’t turn into something that could hurt her.

“Okay,” I relented.

When I went to walk away, she kept hold of my hand and didn’t move.

“Scarlet?”

“Yes.”

“I have to walk.”

“Oh… ah… yeah,” she stammered and started forward with me.

We kept holding hands while we made our way out of the rows and up the hill toward my mother and the footman. I spotted Scarlet’s family amid the wheat; they hadn’t risen but were watching.

When we were closer, my mother spoke. “The Duke of Locksley wants to speak with you, Ellery.”

I saw the concern on her face, but she probably thought this was about me helping his son find the Hooded Robber; I knew it was something more.

“Yes, of course,” I said demurely.

I was pretty sure I was going to throw up and hoped I didn’t do so in front of the duke. While it would make him more repulsed by me, it would also amuse him to know how much he unnerved me, but the man could have me killed with a single word.

“This way, miss,” the footman said to me.

Scarlet squeezed my hand before releasing it. Lifting my apron, I wiped my hands on it before pulling it over my head and handing it to Scarlet.

I almost told my mother I’d be right back, but I didn’t know if it was true. For all I knew, the duke planned to have me arrested or killed before I ever saw her and Ryker again.

The footman walked with me over to the carriage and opened the door. When the footman didn’t hold his hand out to me, I sent him a scathing look; he was no better than me, but he believed he was.

My family owned property and helped feed this realm. He was the servant of an abusive asshole who did nothing for the realm but increase its suffering.