“No,” Gabrielle said quickly. “That’s not necessary. Better to have an escort so you don’t get lost.”
I thought it was very unlikely we’d get lost but held my tongue.
Gabrielle walked away with the guard, leaving Penn and me with our chaperone for the day.
Leoni faced us. “I don’t trust you. I don’t like you. I think you’re manipulating Gabrielle to get something that you want.” She stepped close to me and Penn, and I tensed. “And if I catch so much as a whiff of misconduct, you’ll be thrown off the cliffs and into the sea faster than you can blink. Are we clear on that?”
“You have nothing to worry about,” I said, hoping it sounded convincing. I wasn’t as accustomed to lying as Penn was.
“Are we clear?” she asked again, ignoring what I’d said.
I swallowed and nodded, and she spun on her heel and stalked ahead. “Good. Gabrielle wanted me to show you the fish market and beach where you can go to swim. Let’s get this over with.”
Penn looked at me. “What was that about enjoying ourselves and having fun?”
I pulled my hand from his and elbowed him. “Shut up.”
But despite the guard’s warning, the ominous meaning behind her words, I couldn’t help the smile that came to my face as Penn once again reached for my hand.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Rough hands on my mouth jolted me awake in the middle of the night. I let out a muffled scream as my eyes popped open. The hand pressed down firmly, and my instinct was to call for my guards. It took me a minute to realize I’d been trained for this sort of situation. I brought my knee up, right toward the groin of my assailant, but they caught my leg before I could make contact. Their grip was surprisingly gentle, thumb brushing against my bare skin. I blinked a few times, eyes adjusting to the dark room, and realized Penn stood over me. He released my leg from his hold and pressed a finger to his lips.
“What is wrong with you?” I sat up, covers falling off me as Penn lit a candle, illuminating his face.
His gaze froze on my chest, and my face flushed when I realized what he was staring at.
Gabrielle had told me she’d send nightgowns to my room, a special surprise for me and Penn to enjoy—and she had. Slinky black nightgowns made of lace and silk that hung just above my thigh. The neckline dipped low, revealing my breasts, my shoulders bare with only the thin straps of the dress hanging over them.
I quickly grabbed the covers, pulling them up to my chin and clearing my throat. “Gabrielle had them delivered today, and the maid took my other nightgown so I had nothing else to wear.”
When I’d seen them, I hid them in the armoire, then waited until it was completely dark and Penn was already asleep to sneak into the bath chambers and change.
Penn didn’t say anything, his eyes consuming me.
I cleared my throat. “She must have sent these because of your ridiculous betrothal scheme. She probably thought after everything we’ve been through we deserved a nice, romantic night together.” I was rambling now. I knew it, but somehow I couldn’t get the message from my brain to my mouth to just shut up. “Because if you saw me in this, there would be no resisting me.” I laughed. “Too bad she doesn’t know you. All work. No play.”
“I think I might be persuaded to play a little.” His eyes dipped back down to the blanket, like he was remembering what he’d seen just moments ago, what it now covered.
I hated how much this man flustered me. I’d rarely let anyone get under my skin as princess of the earth court, yet Penn seemed to be able to do it all the time.
“Is there a reason you woke me with your hand over my mouth?”
“You always have to be prepared, Lilypad.”
“Seriously?” I should have known. “It’s the middle of the night. I was sleeping. Very peacefully.”
“I know,” he said. “Your snoring woke me.”
I grabbed a pillow and swung it at him, but before it landed in his face, he caught it and dropped it to the floor. His gaze trailed up my arm, and he reached out, lifting the strap that had fallen over my shoulder and putting it back in its place. His fingers grazed my skin, and I shuddered at his touch, so gentle and soft, so unlike him and the hard edges I was used to.
I shifted in bed. “Is there anything else? Unlike you, I need my rest.”
I hated that the lines between us seemed to be constantly blurred these days. That I couldn’t trust anything he said or did, always wondering what the motivation behind his actions were. It was exhausting and exhilarating all at the same time.
He was already walking toward the door and said over his shoulder, “Get dressed. We’re going on a mission.”
I trailedafter Penn down the dark corridors, lit by streaks of moonlight that shined through the windows. Shadows crept over the walls and floor, and I hurried to keep up with Penn’s long strides.
