Ashton opened the wardrobe where he usually kept his things, searching earnestly for something. How could he be so careless to have lost it?

He combed his hair in frustration. An hour ago, he found out that her promise necklace still hung around her neck like she never took it off, while his, was somewhere in the house. He shut the wardrobe as quietly as he could so he wouldn't wake her up.

He walked out of the room, trying to remember where he was with it last.

"Master?"

The young man turned immediately to the soft voice of his maid.

"Maria," he said. For a moment there, they stared...