He didn’t reply, just leaned forward. I thought he would rest his forehead against mine in a gesture of affection. It would have been enough. I tilted my face to see his expression. His eyes met mine, then his gaze slid to my lips.
My heart beat wildly in my chest like a bird startled into flight. I dared not move for fear it would break his gaze. I had no magic and yet something inside of me was trying to summon that power anyway, to pull Ronan to me.
He lowered his head and kissed me. It was a soft, tentative kiss, the first for both of us. Joy shimmered through me, as warm as sunshine piercing a cloudy sky. I leaned into him, my lips eager and growing reckless. Even as I answered the teasing of his mouth, I was afraid of what would happen when he stopped kissing me and thought better of this.
Finally, he lifted his head and sighed. “Suddenly it’s just become harder for me to study.”
CHAPTER 5
As I stood before Master Grey and Madame Sutton, Alaric was still beaming at my trick of invisibility. He’d asked me many times over the last year how I accomplished my thievery. I’d always told him I couldn’t reveal my methods because, after all, I might someday want to steal from him.
Showing any of my abilities had been impetuous. I’d been goaded into it by Madam Sutton’s disdain, accusations, and no doubt, my lack of sleep. I regretted it already.
Master Grey smiled his approval. He seemed even happier than Alaric. Madame Sutton alone retained her air of skepticism. She scanned the area around me. “Was that true magic or just trickery?”
I raised my brows in question. “You don’t believe what your eyes have shown you?”
She stepped to my side and sliced her hand through the air, checking for some hidden device. “My father used to pull eggs from behind my ears. That didn’t make him a wizard.”
I smiled patiently. “You’re correct. It was all trickery. And now I’ll use the same trickery to find a comfortable place to sleep. If you want to talk further, you can try and find me. Perhaps that will convince you sufficiently.”
Before any of them could answer, I disappeared again. With my enchanted boots, my footsteps made no sound as I strode around the group to the door.
They protested, all of them calling my name profusely. I opened and shut the door, giving the impression I’d gone outside. The three went after me, still calling to me in hushed, urgent whispers. When their voices grew softer, I said the incantation to reverse the spell and headed to the bed.
The evening’s events had left me weary. I flopped onto the bed and pulled the covers on top of me. Alaric would return eventually, but I hoped he’d come back alone, or if not, I hoped the covers would sufficiently hide me so I got a few hours of shuteye.
I’d both given offense to Madame Sutton and made it clear I wasn’t easy to work with. With any luck, these superiors would let things go back to the way they’d been before.
I’d hardly slept before the door swung open again. The group traipsed inside. “The impertinence.” Madam Sutton huffed.
“Ah, but the magic,” Master Grey said. “I’ll take her impertinence as long as we’ve access to magic.”
“She’ll come around.” That voice was Alaric’s. “Marcella cares about the plight of the servants as much as any…”
Their conversation stopped. They’d spotted me.
I silently willed them to go away.
“Shall we let her sleep?” Master Grey whispered.
“She isn’t asleep,” Alaric answered. “She’s too careful for that. She woke up as soon as the door opened.”
Alaric knew me too well.
I heard the rustle of skirts marching toward me, then Madame Sutton leaned over me. “Really, Lady Marcella, if we’re to work together, you’ll have to learn how to take orders without complaint.”
I still didn’t move. “If we’re to work together, you’ll have to learn that I don’t take orders.” Or at least I wasn’t today. Upon my arrival here, instead of being thanked for risking my life—again—I’d been interrogated.
Madame Sutton pulled the blanket away from my face. “You’re our highest-paid agent. Paid higher than myself, I’ll add. We’re not beyond our rights to question your methods.”
I sat up on my elbows and opened my eyes to glare at her. “Your payments are for the tasks I perform, not for the privilege of my secrets.” It wasn’t as though I kept the money. I’d used it to pay off Cook Lindon’s family’s servant prices and make improvements on Paxworth. “I’ve told you more than anyone else is privy to, and for that, you questioned my integrity.” I lay back down and pulled the covers up to show I was finished discussing the matter.
“Do you care nothing for the servants who—” Madame Sutton started, but Master Grey shushed her.
His voice was much more conciliatory. “We didn’t mean to indicate any mistrust on our part. We’re simply ascertaining how to use your talents. What is the extent of your magical abilities?”
I didn’t answer.