“But what have you been doing? We’ve been worried sick!”
“I am healthy and well, Mama.”
“We have missed you. Please come home.” Her mother’s eyes were large and earnest.
Elizabeth turned to her father and looked into the eyes that were the exact same shade of blue as hers. “And you, Father?”
“Of course, I have missed you, Elizabeth. It has not been the same without you here.”
“Have you decided to honour my broken engagement with Duke Howard?”
“Elizabeth, the man wants to wed you very badly. He has tried to wreck many of my investments since you left. He is not easily dissuaded. I never wanted you to leave, however…” Her father paused, and Elizabeth furrowed her brow, waiting for an apology. “He says the marriage offer still holds, and he will still wed you. It would save our image and go a long way in saving my investments and our family name. A neat solution for all.
“Perhaps, we can delay the wedding for a few years so you can have your try at happiness. Maybe, in this time, you will meet another man more to your liking, and we can break it off without damaging any relationships.”
Elizabeth let the silence stretch for a moment, giving them one last chance.
“Thank you for the tea.” And without excusing herself, she stood and headed to the door without looking back.
“Lizzy, LIZZY!” her mother shrieked, calling after her.
Elizabeth squared her shoulders and left the house she had once called home, firmly closing the door behind her.
***
Caspian skulked by the window, watching Elizabeth, Lial, and the two water demons exit the carriage.
He watched Elizabeth smile and thank Lial for helping her out of the carriage. His shoulders sagged in relief. She was still in good spirits.
He would never admit it to anyone, but he had been worried for her, having to venture into that den of foxes alone.
He did not seek her out, however. There was no need to alert her to the fact he had stayed up all night and day, waiting for her to return.
Tomorrow, he would seek her out after she had rested from her journey. It surprised him that without contact for a few days, he had missed her presence. A slight sense of discomfort stirred inside him, of the hurt he’d caused her in their argument, and though it went against his very nature, he would see her and try to explain.
Satisfied that she had been returned to him safe and sound, Caspian made his way to his chambers and slept soundly.
***
The next afternoon, Caspian rose with purpose. He’d spent sleepless nights replaying their fight, and pride be damned—he needed to fix this.
He tasked Iago with finding wildflowers for a bouquet. Iago had found a bunch of the glossy black poppies he liked, and then several flowers with long purple petals. He snapped at Iago to arrange them nicely into a bouquet and bring him ribbons.
Caspian found himself obsessing over details that had never mattered before. Black ribbon? No, too somber. He selected a pale lavender ribbon he thought that she would prefer. She had worn that colour once and seemed to like it.
They were apology flowers and had to be just so.
Something fit for a lady to receive. He hoped she’d like them.
He found the library empty, her usual chair by the window abandoned. The stables yielded nothing but drowsy horses.
At her chamber door, bouquet in hand, he knocked once. Silence.
A second time. Nothing
The third knock echoed back at him, hollow and mocking. His patience snapped and he wrenched the door open.
A sharp, pungent smell hit him—something that didn’t belong. The bed was made, but the room was empty.
