Alina opened the door and stepped inside.
Austin was at the desk reading some report. He had removed his coat and rolled up his shirt sleeves.
"You're late," he said, looking up.
"I was… walking."
"You've been walking a lot today."
"I had things to think about."
"The index?" he laughed.
She frowned as if offended but the color rising to her cheeks betrayed her as she remembered the scene.
She shook her head and walked towards him the way she always did when she was about to do something important. He watched her approach and immediately noticed something different in her walk.
She reached the desk, stood beside his chair and looked down at him.
"Alina, what…"
A knock at the door made him stop mid-sentence.
"Your Grace. A few letters require your signature," Mr. Harrington said, from the other side of the door.
Austin looked at Alina then at the door.
"Leave them outside."
"But the courier…"
"I said leave them outside."
