With a burst of adrenaline, I jumped out of the carriage and tugged Leander swiftly along with me. “Come on! I can’t wait to tell him about Ruby and the others, too. He’ll be so pleased!”

With a whole community of likeminded souls around him, my father would never have to be lonely again—and I knew he’d be delighted to start work on his first new commission for Jasper’s clockwork business.

So I was humming and light on my feet with joy as I half-ran to the cottage door with Leander’s hand strong and cool in mine. It fit there exactly.

We fit together, not because we were the same but because our differences complemented each other—and together, we really could take on anything. I couldn’t wait to thank my father for helping me finally work that out through this madcap, matchmaking journey, so I threw open the front door without a moment’s pause…

And then staggered back, both hands flung over my eyes much too late. “Oh nooooo!” I wailed.

“Wha—? Oh.” Leander reached past me to slam the door shut with haste. “Apologies!” he called out through the closed door. “We’ll give you two a bit of privacy, shall we?”

“Aaargh,” I moaned. “My eyes—!”

Leander, the scoundrel, was shaking with laughter as he gathered me close against his chest, my hands still pressed hard against my poor, scalded eyes. “On the bright side, at least we didn’t need to worry about Uriah after all. He might not have been any more talkative than usual, but he certainly looked happy to me. And as for your father—”

“Oh, don’t!” I tipped my head against Leander’s chest. “I can’t bear to think about it.”

I was all in favor of Dad’s happiness, no matter with whom he found it—but I’d never needed to see it for myself in that kind of eye-watering detail!

“Don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll both be fully dressed again soon enough.” Leander’s voice still bubbled with unhidden amusement as he stroked his hands in comforting circles across my back. “Just pretend you never saw a thing.”

“Trust me, I’m doing my best to un-see all of it.”

“Then how about this for a distraction?” Leander suggested. “Remember how we wondered what Uriah’s family gatherings must be like? Well, from now on, just imagine how many people will be gathered around that happy table together, between him, your father, us, and—oh, yes, his brother the mayor, who wants all of us torched!”

My jaw dropped open in horror. “Ohhhh.” I hadn’t even thought of that part until now!

“Life certainly has become more interesting ever since your family moved in next door to my castle,” Leander said cheerfully. “I never had any idea how much one’s neighbors really can change one’s life. Do you imagine we’ll—?”