Or was it simply the lingering thrum of her heart, beating a soft tattoo against her ribs? She shifted on the coat, only to find the curve of her spine nestled against Osborne’s chest. The intimacy felt oddly comforting. As if that made any sense. In truth, she wasn’t sure she was thinking all that clearly. Had everything changed? Or nothing at all? Every inch of her body felt somehow different. She was no longer a maiden, but a … She was a Merlin, she reminded herself. With a difficult, daunting mission to complete. She flexed her bruised knuckles. Not that she needed a mental scold to remind her of the dangers she faced. “Awake, are you?” Dawn was just beginning to tinge the night sky, so Osborne’s expression was impossible to discern as she turned in his arms. “Yes,” replied Sofia, grateful that the shadows hid her own face. “And we had best dress quickly and be gone from here. The servants will soon be up and about their daily chores.” “Not so fast.” He shifted his body to block her escape.
