Matthias bowed over Sapphire’s hand. “I am very pleased to introduce Mrs. Sapphire Northland.”
Advik grinned, a bright toothy smile. “I am so glad to hear that. She is a lucky woman, and you are a lucky man. It brings me such joy when two people I like find happiness with each other.”
Sapphire blushed, and Matthias’s smile broadened. “We’re here to get her a ring.”
Advik nodded, then brought out several exquisite rings for Sapphire, all the most current cuts and colors. Sapphire perused them, then lifted her shoulders as she turned her brilliant blue eyes toward him.
Matthias’s breath caught. He’d always thought she was lovely, but the last few days he’d found her beyond captivating. The impaired senses of a love-sick man.
“Anything you were thinking?” she asked.
“I want you to be happy. You’re the one wearing it every day of our lives together. But if you want my opinion, I’d say ignore tradition and go with a sapphire. One as close to your eye color as possible.”
A smile curved her lips. “My mother wanted to name me Anastasia, but when my father saw my eyes, he named me Sapphire. One of the few things he didn’t give Mother her way on.”
Mischief twinkled in Advik’s eyes. “Your eyes are a deep and rare blue, but I recently received a small shipment of unusual pieces from a merchant claiming they are Elven.”
“You believe him?” Matthias asked.
“I would have said no until I saw them.” Advik disappeared into the back room, and Sapphire glanced back at the entrance.
Squeezing her fingers, Matthias drew her close to him. Matthias’s pulse quickened as the scent of sun-warmed roses wreathed him and the warmth of her sank into him.
“Do you think my grandfather sent Donald here to wait for me?” Sapphire whispered.
“Does it matter?”
“He tried to kill you once. He will try again.” She tightened her fingers over his. “At this point, he’d kill me and pay someone to pose as me until he can get my father’s money.”
“Mr. Hewitt would see through it.”
“Lord Carsons would bribe him or intimidate him. Maybe both. Wouldn’t be worth standing up to him if I were already dead.”
“It’s always worth standing up for what’s right.” Matthias linked his fingers with hers. “For what it’s worth, I think Donald Carsons was here to sell something. Given the box it was in and the shop, something very expensive.”
Sapphire laid her head against his shoulder, and the silk of her hair tickled him. By the gods, he wanted to feel it slide between his fingers as he kissed her. He shook his head to clear the thoughts.
“What makes you say that?”
“He’s the one who had the case and tucked it back into his pocket when he left. Had to be something expensive, or Henry Carsons’s heir wouldn’t have bothered with it himself.”
“I wonder if the Carsons family is in financial trouble again.”
“Would explain why they’re after your fortune.” Though Mara thought there was something more driving Lord Carsons, and Mara was usually right. What that something was worried Matthias. A lot.
Sapphire stroked his arm. “Makes me wonder how they’re affording people to attack your family’s farm.”
“They were more like thugs than professionals. My guess is they didn’t require much payment upfront and weren’t savvy enough to realize Lord Carsons would kill them after they delivered you.”
As Advik appeared from the back room with a rosewood box, a message popped into existence beside Matthias’s shoulder. The Knight unrolled the magic paper, and cold seeped through him as he read the words.
“What’s wrong?” Sapphire asked.
“There’s been a fire at one of the tenement buildings on the south side of Aerius,” Matthias said.
“Bad?” Advik asked.
“Really bad. They want me to come down and help heal the Knights.” If Knights were as injured as the message implied, Matthias couldn’t imagine how many people had already perished. How many more were hurt and dying… He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer to Thalia for Her mercy and another to Dracor for His justice.
Matthias stared down at Sapphire, and a lump formed in his throat. “I know we planned to spend the day together-”
“And we will. Down at the Temple of Thalia while you heal people.” She smiled at Advik. “Perhaps you can stop by the house in the next couple of days and we can look at those rings. I’d like to select one before we announce our wedding at the Duke and Duchess Valerian’s ball.”
“Of course.” Advik dipped his head.
With her fingers still linked with his, Sapphire headed out to her coach, towing Matthias along with her.
His chest swelled.
Yes, he’d chosen the right woman. She understood his need to serve, even now.
He just needed to convince her to love him.
Chapter 24
Sitting beside Matthias as the carriage rumbled to the south end of the city, Sapphire considered that her cousin was selling family heirlooms and added it to her grandfather’s motives.
Yet, her grandfather had received a king’s ransom for allowing his daughter to marry a sea captain.
Lord Carsons must have greatly displeased Rashalee.
What could her grandfather have done to so anger the dark goddess? It had to predate her birth as the family had been in financial duress when her parents had married. That was strange enough. Rashalee wasn’t a patient goddess, and after so many years, the Carsons should have earned Her favor back or She should have destroyed them completely.
If Mara was right, her grandfather wanted something from her. Something more than just money.
Perhaps whatever he wanted was what it would take to return him to Rashalee’s favor.
If that were the case, nothing would stop him until he got it from Sapphire or until he was dead and buried.
The carriage turned sharply, and Sapphire’s thoughts focused on her husband as he slipped a protective arm around her.
But Sir Matthias wasn’t focused on her.
Sapphire followed his gaze outside the carriage. The plume of smoke she’d noticed that morning had billowed into an ominous cloud that threatened to consume them. The narrow streets in this part of town trapped the soot, and her coachman coughed and shielded his eyes. Sucking in a breath, Sapphire covered her nose with a handkerchief. Even inside the carriage, the smell of burned wood and ash choked her.
Fire was a deadly thing, and even as many of the wooden structures were replaced with stone and roofing materials were improved, the risk of fire was strong when people lived so closely together.
Sapphire’s carriage slowed as more people filled the narrow streets, clutching each other and whatever belongings they’d saved. Shock reflected on their faces, as did hopelessness and loss.
Sapphire’s heart ached.
How could Dracor, god of justice, allow this to happen? Or Thalia, goddess of compassion and mercy?
They hadn’t, Sapphire reminded herself.
This was the work of the Unholy Triumvirate.
The carriage halted, unable to go any further as the mass of bodies thickened. Sapphire surveyed the damage. Many had lost everything they owned in the fire. Some had lost a great deal more.