"A contract marriage?"
The woman's voice before her rose in shock.
Startled, Sylvia immediately lunged forward and clamped her hand over Meredith's mouth, her eyes darting wildly around the garden to make sure no one had overheard the outburst.
Still dissatisfied and clearly unconvinced, Meredith pushed Sylvia's hand away from her lips.
"Have you lost your mind?" she demanded. "Why would you do something like that?"
Several weeks had passed since the entourage departed.
Since then, Sylvia had become a shadow of herself—her once lively eyes dulled, her appetite diminished, and a quiet gloom lingered around her wherever she went.
The change had not gone unnoticed.
Meredith, who had regained much of her strength after the difficult months of her pregnancy, had gradually resumed her duties among the ladies of the castle.
Now that Rachel had officially taken her place as the first Chief Lady-in-Waiting, Meredith no longer wished to appear overly dependent on her.
