Theodore sipped the golden liquor in his crystal glass, his gaze drifting toward the ornate ceiling of his drawing room. He hadn’t intended to get drunk, but after several glasses, he was already pleasantly tipsy. With a weary sigh, he lowered his head.
Across from him sat the man he called his friend, the man he would willingly lay down his life for and who would do the same without hesitation. Yet at this moment, that very man sat before him like a carved statue, staring silently at the table.
Theodore had spent the past month with Peregrine and was a little sad their adventure had ended. But now, he was beginning to regret having a friend.
It was his first night home after a long absence. His wife was upstairs in their bedroom, and Theodore very much wanted to join her.
Why wasn’t Peregrine home with his wife?
Why wasn’t he enjoying his youth?
Go make heirs, you fool. You need to!
Theodore wanted to scream it at him. Unfortunately, Peregrine had been sitting there in silence for hours.
Iggy was exhausted too. Peregrine’s mana was draining faster than usual, his mind clearly elsewhere, and the little sprite had run out of patience entirely.
He had assumed his master was furious with Bianca for tricking him into signing the parchment. Instead, Peregrine had come straight to Theodore’s house at this hour, despite having spent nearly the entire previous month with him.
And he still hadn’t said a word.
Do you have to torture everyone like this, Perry? Why can’t you just talk to Bianca?
Iggy didn’t voice the thought. He wasn’t entirely sure Peregrine would hear him. Or care.
The Duke had been trapped inside his own thoughts for hours.
Finally, Peregrine spoke.
"The Marchioness attended the auction today, I gather?"
Theodore closed his eyes briefly. He knew exactly what Peregrine wanted: information. More specifically, he wanted to interrogate Theodore’s wife, whom he apparently considered a neutral source, until he understood exactly what had happened to Bianca at the auction.
There was only one problem. Seraphina was every bit as stubborn as Peregrine.
Once Seraphina retired to her room for the night, getting her downstairs again was nearly impossible.
And Theodore valued his life. He also valued his marriage.
"She’s retired, Peregrine." Theodore stood, hoping that would be enough to convince his friend to leave.
"I’ll wait."
Theodore stared at him.
There wasn’t even a hint of emotion in Peregrine’s voice, as though he were perfectly entitled to sit there until dawn.
Theodore finished his drink in one gulp.
Did he just ask me to wake my wife, make her get dressed, and bring her downstairs so he could interrogate her?
Does he really think I would do that?
Peregrine held out his empty glass. Theodore stared at it. Then at Peregrine.
"Go to your wife, Peregrine. It’s late."
Peregrine looked genuinely offended.
Theodore almost laughed. Apparently, the great Duke of Valois had never been dismissed from anyone’s house before.
But Peregrine still didn’t move. He had come here for something, and he wasn’t leaving without it.
Then Peregrine finally spoke. "I signed the consent form for my Duchess to enter the service of the Temple."
Theodore’s glass slipped from his fingers. It struck the table with a sharp clink.
What?
Hadn’t Peregrine called Bianca his little wife just this morning? Why in the world had he signed a Temple consent form now?
Unless...
"Why would Her Grace ever want that?" Theodore asked.
For the first time that night, genuine shock crossed his face. Someone had actually managed to pull the wool over the eyes of the great Duke of Valois.
Peregrine simply stared at him.
"You don’t know," Theodore said slowly, "and that’s why you’re here."
Peregrine’s expression didn’t change.
Theodore felt sorry for his friend. He really did.
But at this particular moment, he was considerably more concerned about his marriage than his friendship.
"Still, it’s late. My formidable wife has retired for the evening." He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Only I am permitted to disturb her and sneak into her bed."
Peregrine’s eyes narrowed.
Theodore smiled. "You should do the same. Make a few heirs, if you please, before Her Grace begins seriously contemplating the Temple and a life of servitude."
Peregrine glared at him.
Theodore cleared his throat. "I don’t think Her Grace meant it," he amended quickly.
He leaned back. "She hardly strikes me as a woman yearning to spend the rest of her days serving others. She is far too proud for that."
Peregrine’s expression remained dark.
"It was probably meant to put you in your place. Frighten you, perhaps. Or serve as a warning."
Theodore gave him a sideways glance. "She wouldn’t truly submit the parchment to the Temple. Surely not. We both know how... earthy the Duchess can be. She is hardly the sort to relinquish her title and fortune for a life of holy servitude."
He paused.
"Though, between the two of you, I wouldn’t recommend testing that theory."
Theodore continued talking for what felt like an eternity, saying whatever he could think of to convince his friend that Bianca had not meant the parchment seriously.
Eventually, Peregrine rose from his chair and headed toward his carriage. He had barely stepped outside when a voice rang out from upstairs.
"One should be careful what one teaches a clever woman, Your Grace. She may eventually learn the lesson rather better than intended."
Peregrine immediately looked up.
The moment he saw who was standing there, however, his gaze dropped away.
Theodore whipped his head up. Peregrine’s reaction was rather... excessive. Only then did he understand why.
Seraphina stood at the top of the stairs in her nightgown, a robe hanging casually from her shoulders without even being tied. Her arms were folded over her abdomen, and her icy-blue eyes remained fixed on Peregrine’s departing figure.
She didn’t blink.
Theodore’s fingers curled unconsciously. He watched his wife in silence.
Then Seraphina finally shifted her gaze toward him. Their eyes met. She slowly unfolded her arms and turned back toward her room.
Theodore remained where he was, staring at the floor as his hands curled into fists before slowly relaxing.
She chose me. Not him.
He knew that. He had always known it. But jealousy was a strange thing. It could make a man doubt even what he knew to be true.
By the time Peregrine reached his carriage, Theodore had hurried after him.
"I heard reports that Baron Pembroke entered through the southern borders," Theodore called.
Peregrine paused.
"I haven’t confirmed it yet. Just..."
He didn’t finish.
Peregrine said nothing. The carriage door closed. Theodore watched it pull away. His eyebrow twitched. His lips twisted with disgust.
He hated himself. He had just handed Peregrine something that might hurt his marriage, without any proper confirmation. Now he hoped the rumors were true.
Theodore turned and walked back into the house.
Inside the carriage, Iggy suddenly seemed to have found his spark again. "Baron Pembroke is back?" he asked. "Suspicious timing."
Peregrine stared at him.
Julian Pembroke.
The man Bianca had once been betrothed to. The man who had abandoned her three years ago.
And now, after all this time, he had returned to the Kingdom, at precisely the same time Bianca had handed Peregrine the consent form.
Peregrine’s expression hardened.
Coincidence? Or... not?