Adelaide

I moved down the staircase slowly, one hand trailing along the banister. The house was still—too still. No summons had come from Lord Ashworth the night before.

I had waited with bated breath for someone to storm into my room. I had been too scared to fall asleep, but when time passed and no one came, I sighed in relief.

My thoughts kept wandering to her, Ophelia. I replayed the moment we shared more times than I could count: her intense eyes that looked at me like she could see deep inside my soul; the tension in the room when she helped me take off my clothes.

At first,...