Hours passed in tense silence. I remained by the window, watching darkness settle over the grounds, while Clara Meadows sat in a chair, fidgeting with her apron. The once-reassuring lock on my door now seemed flimsy protection against whatever my family was planning.
"Your Grace?" Clara Meadows's voice broke the silence. "Perhaps we should step outside for a moment? The air in here has grown stale."
I shook my head firmly. "We stay here until morning. The Duke will arrive soon after dawn."
Clara Meadows sighed, rising to pace the small confines of my bedroom. "I understand your caution, but I've been in this room all day. Perhaps I could fetch us some dinner? The household will be eating soon, and no one would question my presence in the kitchen."
I considered her request. My stomach had been growling for the past hour, and our small stash of bread and cheese was nearly gone.
