Chapter 19

DAHLIA :

Fredden left me as fast as he came. I stared at his back, disappearing behind the crowd and the Duke’s face with a mask appearing after him. He sat down pushing a satchel he brought with him. I realized our meals were late and no eyes followed him.

“Go and wear this! It might be the first and last present you might get from me. After that, we are strangers in disguise. You will be on your own,” he said. How was I supposed to wear black like a widow? I shouldn’t be choosy.

I looked around searching for a place to change my clothes. Guessing my question, he walked away and I followed him. His hand found mine in the midst of all the noise and people moving in all direction. My cheeks felt hot and my eyes lowered to watch our hands intertwined together. Strangely, I didn’t hate his contact or touch. I found myself aware of all his movements, my eyes following him everywhere. He was weird but his back was so wide. We walked through a