The ride to the Duke's estate felt shorter than it had the first time.
Perhaps it was because I already knew the destination. Perhaps it was because there was no longer any question about why I was being brought there.
Either way, the carriage did not feel like transportation.
It felt like relocation.
No one had asked for my opinion after the King's announcement. The court had accepted the decree with the same polite shock it accepted most royal decisions, and by the time the chamber emptied, the servants were already preparing the Duke's carriage.
Efficient.
Final.
Eli sat across from me, quiet for most of the ride. He had been silent since we left the palace, which usually meant he was thinking too much.
"You are frowning," I said.
"I am evaluating our situation."
"That doesn't sound good."
"It is," he said almost immediately.
He hesitated before continuing.
"The King has just attached you to the most powerful noble in the kingdom."
"Yes."
