Anna lowered her gaze, her palms damp and trembling. Unease clung to her as she wrung her hands and fidgeted with the folds of her dress. Her mind refused to stay calm.
The entourage had set out that morning, and the carriage rattled steadily along the road, its wooden wheels jolting with every uneven stretch. The motion only made her tension more apparent, her body swaying faintly with each turn.
Hours had passed, with two brief stops along the way.
Outside, the scenery had begun to shift. The lush greens of summer were fading into the deep, burnished hues of autumn. The landscape was beautiful, yet the road grew rougher as they moved westward, winding through gentle hills.
"Anna…"
Her name cut through her thoughts.
She turned to him, startled, her unfocused gaze snapping back to the present.
"Huh?"
"What is it?" he asked.
