Emma jumped, nearly dropping the linens. "Heavens above, Elias! You can't just… appear like that! What if I screamed? The whole house would~"
"You wouldn't scream," he cut in flatly, stepping into the golden light. "You'd glare at me."
And glare she did… half to prove him right, half to mask the way his sudden presence always scrambled her thoughts. She was still getting flowers from him, now delivered in person instead of in secret, and it did something to her she refused to name. And his eyes… Heavens help her—those eyes lit her cheeks for no reason at all.
"You're supposed to be watching Prince Leroy, not lurking in hallways."
"I am," he said without missing a beat. "This hallway leads to his chambers."
Before she could fire back, he reached into his coat and held out a small, neatly folded square of fine silk.
Emma blinked. "What's this?"
