She stood up and walked over to the window again, staring out into the dark duchy.
The mana lamps behind her cast her shadow long across the stone floor, and the silence of the room felt less like peace and more like something held underwater, struggling to surface.
"This makes the situation far more complicated," she murmured, pressing two fingers lightly against the cold glass. Her breath fogged it in a small circle and then vanished.
"If he has truly learned to suppress his desires toward other women, then sending beautiful instruments like you will be useless. He sees through them immediately."
Cathy remained silent.
She had said nothing for nearly a minute now, and the silence was its own kind of answer. Louisa had long ago learned that what a person chose not to say was often more truthful than what they offered freely.
Louisa then turned back around. Her eyes settled on Cathy with such intensity that the young woman felt the chill travel up her spine.
