Cathy stilled. Her hand hovered near the door but did not open it.
"If you ever imply again," Louisa said, her voice soft as silk, "that I should sell myself for this family's ambitions… I will have you reassigned to the northern border. Permanently. And I promise you, Cathy, no one has ever come back from the northern border happy."
Cathy's spine had gone rigid. Her shoulders were a fraction too high.
"Yes, my lady," she replied. Her voice was tight and carefully controlled. "I understand completely."
She left quickly. The door clicked shut behind her with a sound that was almost apologetic in its quietness.
Once she was gone, Louisa leaned back in her chair and let out a long, slow breath.
phew
She listened to the silence of the room reassemble itself around her. Somewhere distantly, she heard the faint movement of a guard making his rounds across the courtyard.
Kraven.
She had always known he was dangerous—but not someone she couldn't manage.
