The Weight of the Act
He led the way, and she forced her stiff limbs to move. From a distance, they might have looked like lovers who could not bear to be parted, and she prayed the illusion would hold.
“Use the dressing room until the seamstress arrives.”
“Carlo… I mean, Carlo will bring my things.”
“Your things? That shabby bundle hardly deserves the name.”
They passed a few bowing servants in the corridor.
“I won’t repeat myself. Act like the woman who is about to marry into the Maderson family. Make the staff believe it without question.”
The image of Princess Theophany rose unbidden. Only someone of that caliber would convince the household, and the thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“Have you considered that the culprit might be among the servants?”
She looked up sharply, eyes wide, at Niguel’s impassive profile.
“Or someone connected to them.”
She parted her lips to ask what he had learned, but he gave the slightest shake of his head.
“Basil is a famous actor. He must have admirers here, and fame always breeds enemies. Complacency will get us nowhere.”
The reality of having to perform for an invisible audience for an entire year settled over her like a leaden weight.
“Where am I supposed to stay, then?”
Niguel’s brows lifted, then drew together. He looked away.
“Not Archerfield. Too many eyes, and it would displease my grandfather.”
Relief loosened the knot in her chest. She gathered her courage.
“Would it be all right if I made a few changes inside the mansion?”
Too late, she realized how presumptuous a marchioness’s wife would sound and hurried to amend it.
“Just one thing. Not everything.”
“Wouldn’t changing everything look more convincing?”
“Pardon?”
He exhaled a short, resigned sigh and continued walking.
“I’ll speak to Peter.”
“Thank you. And… one more thing.”
His stride halted so abruptly that she stumbled. The hand not linked through his arm caught her elbow in a firm grip, steadying her. The touch landed exactly where the cane had struck, and the sensation was oddly intimate.
His cool gaze flicked down, irritation stirring behind the blankness, and she rushed on.
“I need to stay out of sight. If anyone from the seamstress’s comes—”
“They’ll only deliver the garments.”
“Even so, measurements or hair color could slip out. We don’t have much time.”
The large hand released her elbow. A faint chill lingered where it had been.
“I saw Princess Theophany’s wedding gown in the dressing room. If it isn’t too forward… I’d like to borrow it for a day.”
The longer she spoke, the more awkward their linked arms felt. She was about to let go when his long fingers brushed her cheek, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. A low, amused voice followed the gentle touch.
“My bride-to-be has quite the plan, it seems.”
A servant hurried past in the distance; his gesture suddenly made sense. She swallowed.
“Well? Finish what you were going to say. I’m listening.”
“It isn’t really a plan…”
She glanced up and met his piercing blue eyes, fixed on her with such intensity that the words died in her throat. The pressure of that gaze seemed to press against her philtrum and lips.
The answer slipped out before she could think.
“The bookstore.”
“…What?”
His brow furrowed, and the expression looked almost disappointed. Pride pricked her.
“I am a bookseller. If I’m going to be idle, I might as well teach the children to read. Noblesse oblige, you know.”
“Your grand plan… is charity?”
She smiled as brightly as she could manage.
“Of course. What else could I possibly do? I have to hide my identity and do volunteer work. There’s no need for custom gowns or borrowed wedding dresses.”
His steady gaze made her add hastily, “If I need other clothes, I’ll hire my own seamstress. There’s one I know—Beth—”
“Have you already spoken to the people in Flat? About the bookstore as well?”
She blinked. Now that he mentioned it, it did sound feasible. She had been worrying about how to conduct inquiries while disguised as a bookseller; the answer had been right in front of her.
How does he know about the people in Flat? Did he investigate me?
“You shouldn’t trust them so readily. They may not be what you think.”
He spoke as though he knew them better than she did, but she chose not to press. He might be right.
She shrugged. “Everyone has secrets they don’t want to share. I don’t have to explain everything to them, either.”
Lisa’s worried face flashed through her mind, followed by Noel’s.
“I’d also like to hire a driver I know, if possible.”
Someone who already knew the marriage was a sham. Someone who could stay close.
Assuming Noel agreed.
“Fine. Do it.”
“Really?”
The swift, easy permission left her momentarily speechless. He lengthened his stride, forcing her to keep pace.
“Keep reporting, just like this.”
“Reporting?”
“It’s only natural when someone is on the payroll.”
By the time the full weight of that reality sank in, they had reached the main building where the carriage waited. The butler was seeing a gentleman out beneath the portico. The thick medical bag suggested a physician.
Niguel’s large hand covered the back of hers where it rested on his arm. She drew a deep breath at the signal and leaned into him, forcing a composed smile onto her lips.
“Sir Anwell.”
The middle-aged man removed his hat in greeting. The butler offered a brief explanation.
“Princess Theophany took a fall from her horse. Treatment is complete, and he is returning home.”
Only then did Kayla remember she had meant to tell Niguel about the incident. She studied his face, wondering how he felt about his former fiancée.
His expression never wavered. He simply thanked the doctor for his care, and the calm courtesy made her avert her eyes in discomfort.
“It was nothing, my lord. The young lady’s quick thinking prevented anything worse.”
The physician’s curious gaze turned toward her. Niguel shifted slightly, drawing her behind the shelter of his broad shoulder.
“As expected of a prodigy. I’m impressed you remembered.”
He looked down at her with a dazzling smile, eyes gleaming with pride. She gazed back at him in silence and thought, not for the first time, that he might be an even better actor than Basil. The realization sent a jolt of alarm through her.
His hand slid smoothly from her arm and threaded deeply between her fingers. She froze, forgetting even to breathe.
A curtain on the third-floor window fluttered. The silhouette of Princess Theophany was visible behind it.
She wondered, with sudden unease, whether they would have to perform this awkward charade in front of the princess as well.
The carriage carrying the physician rolled away. The butler spoke again.
“The head of the house is waiting.”
Niguel answered with a short nod and led her into the hall, their fingers still laced.
“A pity we couldn’t share lunch.”
His lips brushed her forehead. She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to stop herself.
While he shrugged back into the jacket he had draped over her shoulders, his gaze remained fixed on her face.
……? Ah!
She caught his meaning a moment later and stepped forward. Pretending to straighten his collar, she placed her palm against his chest and offered a shy smile. Her hand and cheek both tingled.
“Don’t worry and go on with your work.”
It still felt insufficient. She added, “And please don’t skip meals.”
His mouth curved in a wide grin, but only she could see the mischievous glint in his eyes. He took her hand from his chest, brought it to his face, and pressed his lips to her palm.
Before she could pull away, his lips moved, teeth grazing sensitive skin. A strange sound nearly escaped her throat; she bit the inside of her cheek to hold it back.
Through half-lowered lashes, she met his eyes. The green irises held a clear warning: This much, at least, is necessary.
He released her fingers slowly, as though reluctant, then turned away. The butler followed at a discreet distance.
Her held breath rushed out.
She was still pressing her damp palm against the front of her dress, trying to calm her racing heart, when a voice spoke.
“Miss.”
A maid stood watching her, eyes bright with curiosity.
“Her Highness the Princess has invited you to lunch.”
Only then did Kayla realize she had never asked how she was supposed to behave in front of Princess Theophany.