I lowered my gaze.
Of course he wasn't.
Not anymore.
The boy from before—the one who'd sneak candy into my cabinet after making me angry. The one who wished on every birthday candle to grow up fast so he could marry me. The one who'd kissed me at his eighteenth birthday celebration, clumsy and reverent, in front of a room full of guests.
That boy was gone.
I drew a slow breath, forcing down the tightness in my chest.
I didn't respond to Barnaby.
Instead, I turned to Carolyn.
"Are you really content being a mistress for the rest of your life?"
"Once he's bored with you, you'll crawl back to The Velvet Paramount as a dance girl."
"Old patrons chase new faces. New patrons will call you washed up. Do you think there'll still be a place for you there?"
Her face went pale.
Her nails dug into Barnaby's arm.
"Commander," she breathed, her voice dripping honey, "I want... to be with you properly."
"Please?"
Barnaby swept her into his arms.
"Nonsense," he chided.
As he carried her toward the door, he tossed back over his shoulder: "If you want me to coax you, just say so."
"You're decent with knives and guns, but competing for attention like some simpering girl? You're not even close."
He actually thought I was throwing a tantrum.
That I was playing the same games as his parade of women, vying for his favor.
I didn't know what to say.
So I followed them.
All the way to the Governor's Residence.
Barnaby settled the woman in my room.
Her drooping expression lifted instantly.
Barnaby kissed the corner of her mouth. "Happy now?"
She threw herself into his arms. "Commander, you won't let her leave—does that mean she's still in your heart?"
My footsteps faltered.
I heard Barnaby's low laugh. "Rose has been by my side for seventeen years. Of course she's in my heart."
"But that doesn't conflict with wanting you."
Then came the wet sounds of kissing.
Carolyn pushed him away, breathless and pouting. "Then why put me in her room? Aren't you afraid your precious darling will run off in a fit?"
"Run?" Barnaby's smile deepened. "Where would she run to?"
"Her entire family is dead. She needs the Residence to find their killers."
A dull ache spread through my chest.
Even though I'd long since stopped expecting anything from Barnaby.
Those words still cut.
Carolyn's voice turned coy. "Your proposal was the talk of the town back then. 'One life, one love, one person'—that's what you said."
"Turns out you didn't love her that much after all."
She paused, then added:
"But she's still technically your fiancée. Are you really going to let her run around with your sworn enemy?"
Barnaby scoffed.
"Sworn enemy?"
"Nat Vance?"
His tone dripped contempt.
"That waste of space? Why would I care about him?"
"He can't perform. He's not even a real man. You could strip the most popular girl at The Velvet Paramount naked and throw her in his bed—he still couldn't touch her."
Barnaby paused, then continued: "Besides, I know my woman."
"She's an old-fashioned traditionalist at heart. Believes in all that 'three obediences' nonsense. Once she gave herself to me, she'd die before letting another man have her."
"Whatever she's doing with Nat Vance—it's just a show. For my benefit."
My fingers tightened around the doorframe, knuckle by knuckle.
So he knew.
He knew how traditional I was at my core.
That's why he dared to trample on me like this.
Because he was certain.
Certain I'd never escape his grasp.
Carolyn pressed further. "But what if... she actually falls for him?"
"The Azure Dragon Syndicate bought up the thousand-acre rose garden on Lafayette Avenue this morning. Cleared out every bolt of silk at Rutherford & Co. too. All in Nat Vance's name—all for her."
"What woman wouldn't be tempted?"
"Tempted?" Barnaby let out a derisive snort. "She's nothing like you. She doesn't care for the things other women fawn over."
