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The Duke of Hartford had arrived at the training grounds that morning.

I’d heard the man’s name, of course, but it didn’t matter much.

I was too busy hoping Elyssa would come back that afternoon for services.

Attending them suddenly didn’t feel like such a chore.

As I headed to the gardens, I heard the soft patter of feet.

When I turned back, she was smiling up at me. I could barely find my breath much words.

“Did you ever find those buttercups?”

I shook my head.

“Maybe we could look for them together?”

I grinned, looking as stupid as I felt, but I offered her my arm.

And she accepted.

And she did. On my way out to do more weeding, I saw her with Gillian.

He was the best calificar in our class.

Smart. Dedicated. Unyielding.

And he didn’t get assigned kitchen duty. Ever.

My heart sank.

I flopped back on my bed, certain I had made a complete ass of myself in front of one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen.

And kind.

And she’d laughed at my jokes. Even the bad ones.

I hoped she’d come back.

She laughed, and her voice reverberated through me like a spell I hadn’t properly destroyed.

“I would rather like to see one of these buttercups.”

“Oh, well, I’m sure we can find some. It’s a big garden, and they are very tenacious.”

My training in etiquette kicked in, and even though I was shaking under the heavy armor, I offered her my arm.

She accepted, and I couldn’t believe how small and soft her fingers were on the hard metal.

She smiled at me. By the Architect, she smiled at me.

My heart was beating faster than when I was in practice.

I pointed at the flower. “Do you know if that’s a weed?”

Her smile widened. “I am not certain, but it seems too pretty to be a weed.”

“You’d think that, wouldn’t you. But that’s how they get you. There’s these little yellow flowers…” I shook my head and swallowed. “But you aren’t here about buttercups.”