I woke in an unfamiliar bed. I was groggy. Confused.
Naked.
Then the night came back to me in a rush, and I remembered everything so clearly I could feel it all over again: the baron’s hands tracing their way up my thigh, the baron’s lips at my neck, tickling their way down my ribs, my stomach…
My entire body tingled with pleasure. I stretched luxuriously. Rolled over, reaching out for Baron Joachim.
But he was gone, and I was alone.
I sat up and pushed aside the heavy curtains. “Hello?” I called.
The room was dark and cold. The fire in the hearth had gone out. I wanted to bury myself under the covers and go back to sleep, but I felt an uneasy prickle on the back of my neck.
Where had the baron gone? Why hadn’t he woken me?
I got up, grabbing my shift from the floor where it’d fallen and slipping it on. I was shivering, but there was no other dress, no cloak.
I need to find my way back to my room—back to Margery. I hurried to the door. I pulled on the handle.
It was locked.