“I suppose I shouldn’t complain. Anything’s better than you being bound. And at least this explains how you come to be dressed head to toe in fine silk.”

Oh. Yes. Her tunic and trousers. Beautiful. Expensive. A gift from Morgan… and his lost love, in a roundabout way. The fine clothes had once belonged to Luzena. He’d kept them, perfectly preserved, and offered them to her in place of her work-ruined linens. Just until other arrangements could be made.

Only I don’t believe I’ll share that tidbit with Remmie.

“Silk or linen or cotton, what does it matter?” she said, dismissive. “It’s only clothes. Just a way not to be naked.”

“That’s true.” And then Remmie looked at her, his eyes cautious. “This business of your magic, Barl. Unbinding yourself, and breaking Lord Danfey’s wards. How do you explain it?”

She shrugged. “I can’t. And what does it matter? The point is, Remmie, I’m as good as I always said I was. In fact I’m better. And the things I’m learning. You should see Morgan’s books. I’ve learned more in a few days of reading them than in my last three years of artisanry study.”

“That’s good,” he said, subdued.

She leaned toward him. “And I’m going to share what I’m learning with you. I’m going to copy out any incants I think are suitable and I’ll send them to you, so you can teach your pupils and Barton Haye and anyone you think might like to learn them. So much fantastic magic, Remmie, that the ranked mages have kept for themselves. But their magic’s mine, now. And I’m going to make it yours.”

“Barl…” Arms folded on the table, Remmie lowered his head. Shook it, very slowly. “You can’t.”

“Watch me.”

He looked up. “No. You can’t. What if you’re caught? You think you’re untouchable because you’re bedding Morgan Danfey. And yes, all right, you’re bedding him today. But what about tomorrow?”

“I told you. Tomorrow, or the next day, or in a week or so, I’ll be Lady Danfey.”

“And you know that how? Because he told you?”

He’d told her many times since that night in the attic. Told her smiling, told her breathless, told her with tears in her eyes.

She lifted her chin. “I suppose you’re going to tell me he was lying?”

“Barl…” Remmie’s eyes were full of fear for her. “By your own admission he’s already spurned one young woman, a mage ranked in the First Families. What’s to say he won’t grow tired of you in a week, or a month? And if he does, and he discards you, who’ll protect you then?”

To her surprise, Remmie’s harsh words didn’t anger her. Instead, she felt sorry. He didn’t understand.