The walk back to my chambers was the longest walk of my life. Every servant I passed seemed to know. Their eyes would dart away, their heads would bow, but I could feel the judgment in the air. The fool from the council meeting. The Duke's pretty, useless husband. By the time I reached my rooms, the shame had curdled into a hot, simmering anger.
I didn't wait for Eliot. I slammed the door behind me, the sound echoing in the quiet room. I ripped the velvet tunic off, the fine buttons popping off and skittering across the floor. I threw it into a corner, not caring that it was probably worth more than a commoner's yearly wage. I felt like I was suffocating in this place, in these clothes, in this skin.
