Page 34 of A Fable of Riddles and Redemption

“Wait, miss!” Captain Firmin called.

She paused in the doorway and spun around, the fury flashing in her light blue eyes making her somehow even more stunning than usual. “For what? To be blamed for something I know nothing about? I have no idea what caused your diva to lose all her sense, but I can promise I had nothing to do with it. Now if you will excuse me, it’s getting late, and I would prefer to get home sooner than later.”

Looking chagrined, Duke Armand said, “Forgive us. We are merely worried about Carlotta. It seems Madame Giry already prepared a guest room for you. Stay here tonight as acknowledgment of our apology.”

Zorina pursed her lips, but the fire in her eyes abated somewhat. “I accept your apology, but not your hospitality. Goodnight, Your Grace. Captain.” She hesitated for a moment, then added, “Herrick.”

Before any of the men could say anything else, she turned and left.

“Follow her,” Captain Firmin said, his sharp gaze suddenly on Herrick. “Escort her home. It’s too dangerous for her to go alone.”

Herrick winced. “I don’t know that she’d let me.”

“She may be furious, but her anger is aimed at us, not you,” his captain said. With a tilt of his head, he asked, “Do you know her?”

“Yes. Zorina is Jurian Atkins’ shopkeeper.”

“The pottery girl? The one I asked you to flirt with?”

Herrick nodded. “The same.”

Duke Armand perked up in interest. “Flirt with? Go! Go after her and see if you can discover anything while you gallantly walk her home.” He motioned for Herrick to leave and chase down the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about.

How could Herrick possibly argue with that?

Even if the purpose didn’t feel entirely noble.

Nodding to his captain and the duke, Herrick departed, hoping to catch Zorina before she got too far away.

At least he knew where to find her, generally speaking. He knew what path she would take to get home, and where her small home was located. With his longer legs, catching up should be relatively easy.

Trying to spot her in the still-busy streets, however, proved challenging since her petite size made it easier for her to dart through the crowd and out of sight. And with how angry she’d been when she fled, he suspected she’d stormed off at a quicker pace than usual—and with a greater desire to stay out of sight.

Her desire to hide made him want to chase after her all the more.

And not just literally in this moment.

But always.

The thought startled him as he squeezed his way through the crowded streets. How could he feel so strongly about a woman he barely knew?

Yes, she was beautiful, intelligent, and had an inner fire that drew him to her like a moth to flame. But it was more than that. Despite her grumpiness that matched his own, she cared about others. It was evident in the way she’d adopted that pesky red panda and how she’d aided a helpless woman in the woods.

Under all her bluster, she was soft…and maybe even secretly as sweet as she liked her tea. Perhaps the crusty surface she showed the world was a way of protecting herself—which made him want to protect her even more—especially her tender heart.

If she could turn that hidden caring nature on him…

Herrick shook that hope away. Such a dream was impossible.

Besides, he had to focus on finding her, not wooing her. Although his employers wanted him to do that as well for less-than-noble purposes—a notion which twisted his stomach with guilt.

At last, he finally found her weaving through the masses, her blonde hair and her black skirt flying behind her as she dashed at a quicker pace than usual. Increasing his own speed, he moved toward her, his size and uniform naturally giving him more space in the crowd. Herrick passed Zorina, then stopped right in front of her. She nearly crashed into him in her rush.

“May I escort you home?” he asked.

Zorina scoffed and glared up at him. “After that debacle? No.”

He scrunched his brows together. “I had nothing to do with that interrogation.”