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Cecelia nodded.
“There’s no time to gather your things,” Milly warned.
“Blast it,” Cecelia swore. She took Milly’s hand and let the gnome guide her to the window.
“Jump with me,” Milly said.
Cecelia arched a brow at her.
“Have I ever let you down?” Milly asked.
Cecelia threw one leg over the windowsill and jumped. The wind caught her, swirling her hair and her dress until she settled within it. Milly held tightly to her hand.
“I’m sorry it’s come to this,” Milly said.
Cecelia could barely hear her over the wind. Over the breaking of her own heart. “I’m sorry too,” she whispered. She’d never been sorrier.
***
Marcus stepped into the breakfast room with a smile on his face. His lips were still tender from the night before, and he drew his lower lip between his teeth to worry it. He’d never imagined that kissing Cecelia could feel quite so… right. The feel of her in his arms, and those little noises she’d made. The way that her breasts pressed against his chest while her hands played in the hair at the nape of his neck. It was making him hard all over just thinking about it.
Marcus froze in the doorway as Ainsley and Allen sprang apart. Ainsley looked down at her plate, and Allen looked decidedly uncomfortable.
“Do you want me to leave and come in again?” he asked. A grin tugged at his lips.
“That won’t be necessary,” Allen said. He smiled at Ainsley from beneath lowered eyelids, and her face mirrored his, all rosy and uncomfortable.
“The two of you are thick as thieves, I see,” Marcus said as he filled a plate at the sideboard.
Allen grinned widely. “Do you really want to talk about relationships right now, Marcus?” he questioned.
“Why shouldn’t we?” Marcus asked.
“Because my bedroom window just happens to overlook the garden,” Allen said with a raised brow.
“Oh,” Marcus said, a laugh erupting from his chest. “I hope you didn’t overlook the garden for very long.”
“Long enough,” Allen murmured. He reached beneath the table to take Ainsley’s hand, and she turned even rosier. “I hope you plan to marry the chit,” he said.
“She’s not a chit. She’s to be my wife. As soon as she’ll have me.”
“Congratulations,” Ainsley said with a cheeky grin.
“Thank you,” Marcus said back. He couldn’t stop smiling today. He just couldn’t. His life was too perfect. He had his family. He had the fae and his missions. He had Cecelia, and he had his parents’ love. Things couldn’t get any better. “Have you seen Cecelia?” he asked.
Ainsley shot a worried glance toward Allen.
“What’s wrong?” Marcus asked.
“Nothing that we know of,” Ainsley said cryptically.
“Then why the long face?”
“Ronald and Milly are here. And Cecelia is gone.”
Marcus wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Gone?”
Ainsley looked down at her plate.
