“What?” Jane cocked her head. “Don’t tell me it’s not what you want. I know it’s been hard for me, with temptation all around.” She grinned wickedly. “Did you see Winn, with her pretty boys? And one of the serving girls definitely gave me a wink. I’ve been frigging myself to sleep every night, wondering if you’re doing the same thing up there in your castle—”

“Jane—”

“Oh, don’t pretend you haven’t.”

Winter’s cheeks were beet red. “Would you listen to me for a minute?”

“Oh, I see.” Jane sat down heavily on the bench and let her head loll back. “It’s not my Winter who’s come to see me, it’s Colonel Ihernglass.”

“It’s me,” Winter said. “Jane, what are you doing?”

“Having a good time. Have you forgotten how?”

“It’s been days.”

“I know. The tavernkeepers here are a bunch of fucking puppies. I just glare at them and they hand over their keys and their virgin daughters.” She caught Winter’s expression and rolled her eyes. “Figuratively speaking. But they wouldn’t last five minutes back in the Docks.”

“And what about the regiment?”

“What about it? We fought the fucking battle, didn’t we? We deserve a bit of a rest.”

Winter stared, not sure what to say. Jane looked back, green eyes slightly bloodshot, then looked away uncomfortably.

“Besides,” she said. “I figured you’d come and get me when you wanted me.”

“I’m sorry I was so hard on you during the battle. I was—”

“You were angry,” Jane said. “And you were probably right. Sevran knows about”—she waved a hand vaguely—“troops and lines and ranges, things like that. What do I know?”

“You’ve been a good captain for the Girls’ Own—”

“No, I haven’t.” Jane crossed her arms. “Let’s not lie about it. I make a shitty officer, and we both fucking know it.”

“Being an officer isn’t just about training. It’s about your relationship with the soldiers. The girls worship you.”

“The ones downstairs do,” Jane said. “They’ve been with me a long time. The rest of them have found a new idol to bow to, I think.”

“Abby was right,” Winter said before she could stop herself. “You’re jealous.”

“You and Abby talk about me?” Jane smirked, but Winter could see the hurt in her eyes.

“She came to me, Jane. She’s worried about you. We both are.”

“She’s a sweet girl. Tell her I can take care of myself.”

Winter gritted her teeth for a moment. “We don’t have time for this. I have orders from Janus. The regiment is leaving the city in the morning, and I need you to get your people here back to the citadel.”

“Ah,” Jane said. “I was wondering why now was the time to rein me in.”