Cate frowned. “I’m not judging you, Adelaide. Please don’t think that I asked for any reason other than I’m curious. I actually admire you for being so brave.”

Addy’s eyebrows shot up. “You do?” Cate had walked in the dark, with only a wounded soldier for protection, in a desperate bid to save her and Jack’s life. Adelaide certainly hadn’t expected to be the one called brave.

“Elise is worried about you, and to be honest I’d feel the same if you were my little sister. You’re all she’s got left.”

Addy nodded. “I know. Honestly, I do. She’s just, well, she’s used to telling me what to do, that’s all.”

“And this time you want to be the one making your own decisions?”

Addy smiled into her coffee. “Something like that.”

Cate leaned forward then, and Addy looked up at her. “Just be careful. He might be just a man falling for a beautiful girl, or he might want more than you’re prepared to give. In fact, he might suspect more than you realize, so be vigilant. You might not know if he’s playing a terrible game with you until it’s too late.”

Her words sank in and Adelaide realized her coffee mug was trembling in her hand. “I’ll be careful. I promise I will.” She hadn’t really thought about the fact that he could be playing with her, rather than the other way around.

“Good, then can we check how that bread’s looking? Because I could honestly eat a horse, I’m so hungry.”

If Cate was trying to win her over, she’d definitely succeeded.

“Cate, how is it that you’re so level-headed?” Addy asked once they were both standing by the oven. “I mean, you’ve risked everything to stay alive, you’re hiding in my house and . . .” She took the bread out and turned to face her. “You’re amazing. I’d be a nervous wreck, is what I’m trying to say.”

Cate’s quiet sob took her by surprise; a shudder shook the other woman’s shoulders but lasted barely a few seconds before Cate seemed to compose herself.

“Cate, oh Cate, I’m so sorry!” Addy discarded her oven mitt and threw her arms around her. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Cate hugged her tightly, and Addy stroked her back in big circles.

“I’m fine, you just caught me off guard, and I’ve been holding it all in for so long,” Cate said, stepping away at last. “I’m not who you think I am, Addy.”

“So you’re not a brave, strong, capable woman then?”