I laid in bed, trying to figure which option to choose. There were four to choose from:
1 - call one of the girls to bring me some clothes. The trouble was they would know I was upset and pick at me until I explained everything.
2 - I could struggle into my gown and walk home. The problem with that is the whole town would think I was doing a walk of shame. I had zero shame, but the tears would probably throw them.
3 - I could lie in bed until the maid showed up, force her to give me her clothes, run home in disguise, pack a bag, then flee to somewhere far away where no one knew me.
4 - Give in to my broken heart, curl up, and die. Preferably before the maid showed up.
I was honestly leaning towards the last one.
I thought Eldur was in the bathroom when I woke up. I eventually got up and knocked on the door when I couldn’t ignore the call of nature any longer to find it empty. A quick scan of the room confirmed not only was I alone but there was zero evidence he was ever in the room. No suitcase. No random receipt on the dresser. Not even a toothbrush in the bathroom.
I tried to convince myself that I got exactly what I wanted. I lived the fantasy of being wooed at a ball by a handsome rogue. One day I would see the sex marathon that followed as a bonus. Not any time soon, but one day.
I lost track of time as I replayed everything in my mind. The way our bodies flowed together on the dance floor. The silly gift game he insisted we play in the garden. The way he called me sweetheart in elvish.
The one image that kept playing in my mind on a never ending loop? When he pulled my exhausted body into the shelter of his and commanded I sleep.
A car horn jerked me back to reality. A glance at the clock confirmed the entire town would be up and moving soon. If I had a shot in hell of getting home with any part of my dignity intact, I needed to get dressed and slip down the back stairs.
I tightened the laces on the back of my dress as best as I could and covered my shoulders with a throw. If no one looked too closely it could pass for a shawl—probably.
It took me all of a second to pick the stairs that led to the kitchen instead of the main stairs. At the most, one person would be in the kitchen. Who knew how many would be gathered in the lobby, lounge, or dining room? I forced myself to walk down the stairs slowly. It would ruin my escape if I tripped over my gown, fell down the stairs, and broke my neck.
I cursed under my breath when Mrs. Dansbury called ‘hello’ the moment I stepped into the kitchen. She should have been out talking to her guests, not lurking in the kitchen waiting to foil my escape.
“Morning, Ada. Did you have a nice night?”
I plastered the fakest smile in the history of smiles on my face before I turned around. I loved Mrs. Dansbury. I really did. She was everyone’s favorite aunt, even if they weren’t really related. She just wasn’t the person I wanted to see while trying to sneak out of her inn.
“Morning, Mrs. Dansbury. The ball was beautiful, don’t you think? Gretchen and Natalie outdid themselves.”
She drew out the awkward moment by sipping her tea. “Yes, it was. I believe the wedding was lovely, though I wasn’t there to see it.”
“Wedding?”
“Yes. Word around town this morning is Lord Svero took a bride last night.”
“Lord Svero?”
Shit. Eldur skipped out on a wedding to be with me last night? That might explain why he disappeared this morning without a trace, but it didn’t explain why there were zero things in the room.
“I didn’t realize there was a wedding. There must be something in the water here.” I fidgeted with the fringe of the blanket before I realized I probably shouldn’t draw attention to the fact I was wearing it home. “I’ll have to ask the girls about it.”
The old witch took another sip of her tea.
“Well, I’ll just be going … home.” I blindly reached behind me for the door handle.
“You’ll miss the breakfast feast.”
That wasn’t part of my original escape plan, but it just made it to the top. There was no way in hell I wanted to roll into someone’s breakfast reception in a crumpled gown from last night and my hair looking like I lost a fight with a tornado.
“Oh, they don’t want me there. I mean, look at me, I’m a mess. I had too much to drink last night and passed out in the first open room I found. I know I should have asked first, but I didn’t know where you were. I promise I’ll come back this afternoon to pay for it. I don’t want you to think I took advantage or anything. I just knew you would, uh, understand.”
I turned for the door when she picked up her teapot.
“Everyone knows about last night. There’s no reason for you to be sneaking out the back door.”
Every part of me stopped when her words penetrated my brain. My heart quit pumping blood through my body. My lungs quit dragging in air. My brain short circuited to the point I blacked out.