Drake surrendered to exhaustion. Heaviness in his limbs kept him from moving a muscle. He stared at shadows on the ceiling made by flickering candlelight as he rested in his bed, half-dressed in breeches.
He thought about his ride home with Rosaline and Kyle as they returned from the ball. Most of the trip had been in silence. Drake knew that Kyle hadn't told him the truth about Sierra's sudden departure.
Drake had glimpsed the pain in her eyes after his engagement to Isadora was announced. He'd wanted to chase Sierra, but it would have been futile. What could he have said after hurting her? A simple apology wouldn't have been enough.
Instead of going after Sierra, for the rest of the evening, he had forced himself to smile and make toasts. He had stood at Isadora's side, accepting all
