Chapter 83: Whispers of the Old Duchess
Hannah kept her expression calm, neutral, not meeting Logan's stare too directly. She cut another small piece of meat, slow and deliberate.
"Our business is with the duke," she said evenly, giving nothing away. "It's personal. Not something I care to discuss over dinner."
Logan's jaw tightened, his fingers squeezing slightly around his fork. He clearly hated being dismissed, hated that she held a secret that gave her power over him.
"Personal? A wandering adventurer with no title, no house — how do you have personal ties to Gorthmorde?"
"Some things aren't for strangers to know," Hannah replied lightly, still not rising to his tone.
Jonathan quickly stepped in, awkward and eager to smooth the tension. "Logan, she doesn't have to say —"
"I'm asking," Logan cut in, not taking his eyes off Hannah. "As a successor candidate. I have a right to know who's walking these halls, speaking to the duke, and what they want."
