The General Who Took My Lantern and Broke My Heart Chapter 18

The General Who Took My Lantern and Broke My Heart Chapter 18

Bram’s mouth twitched.

He sat across from Rafferty, poured himself a drink, and held the glass without taking a sip, turning it slowly between his fingers.

“Commissioner Quillan has been busy with state business lately. I didn’t realize you still had the leisure to host parties.”

His gaze drifted, barely there, toward Aveline.

“Then again, you’ve been spending a lot of time with my wife. I suppose I should ask what you want.”

“Your wife?”

Rafferty set down his glass. His tone stayed easy, but every word landed clean.

“Captain Caulfield, I think you’re mistaken. Miss Rook isn’t married. So where does your come from?”

Bram’s face shifted.

Before he could speak, Thorne said calmly from the side, “Aveline’s marriage to Bram was never filed. Commissioner Quillan has no reason to be upset.”

It sounded like he was smoothing things over.

But every word cut straight into Bram’s wound.

Rafferty turned to Thorne with a faint smile.

“You do know the details, Keeper Bellwether.”

He paused, his voice still mild.

“But I’m curious. What gives you the right to address Miss Rook so intimately?”

Thorne’s face stiffened.

His fingers tightened around the handle of his cane until his knuckles went pale, but he could not get a single word out.

The whole table fell silent.

Everyone’s eyes moved between the three men, but no one dared to speak.

Aveline sat off to the side, lifted her cup, and took a sip of tea.

She did not look at any of them.

She did not need to speak.

Rafferty had said what needed to be said. With a few mild words, he had put both men in their place and kept the room from turning ugly.

Bram’s gaze landed on her. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he swallowed it down.

He lifted his glass and drank it in one shot.

Thorne lowered his eyes and said nothing more.

Rafferty lifted his cup again, as if nothing had happened.

“Try this year’s new blend.”

Aveline nodded, lifted her cup, and did not spare the other two men another glance.

By the time the reception ended, it was nearly eleven.

Rafferty saw Aveline back to Rook’s Spice Shop. Neither of them spoke much along the way.

When they reached the door of Rook & Ember, Rafferty suddenly stopped.

Aveline turned to look at him.

The easy amusement had gone from his face. For once, Rafferty looked entirely serious.

“What are you going to do about those two?”

Aveline did not answer.

Rafferty watched her in silence for a moment, as if weighing his words.

Then he stepped a little closer.

“Aveline, I’m not pretending my intentions are noble. But I won’t ask for anything from you while you feel trapped.”

He looked straight into her eyes.

“But I need you to know how I feel.”

He paused.

“I like you. I want to marry you.”

“You don’t have to answer me now. I just needed you to know.”

Aveline froze.

She looked into his eyes. Her heartbeat missed once. She opened her mouth, but no words came.

Rafferty did not push her.

He stepped back half a pace, and the familiar lazy smile returned to his face.

“Go inside. Get some rest.”

Rafferty turned and walked away. Aveline stood at the door, watching until the quiet street swallowed him from sight.

After a long while, she opened the door and went inside.

Neither she nor Rafferty noticed the man standing across the street, half-hidden beneath the awning of a closed shop.

A few days later, heavy rain fell over Vesper City.

Aveline was about to close the shop when she caught sight of someone standing under the awning across the street.