A banging at the door brought Kit out of a deep slumber. For a moment, she wasn’t sure if what she was hearing was real or part of a dream, though it didn’t quite go with what she remembered of her dream—a peaceful meadow and all of her men. When the rapping sounded again, her eyes fully open this time, Kit knew it was part of the real world. Jate was pulling on his breeches and tossed Kit her nightgown, which she slid on over her head before her beau opened the door a crack.

“Is the princess awake?” Avinia’s voice sounded slightly frantic, which for her cousin was a...