My stomach lurched again as I leaned over the basin, emptying what little remained inside. Lady Rowena—no, just Rowena now, apparently—handed me a damp cloth.
"Here," she said, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Press this to the back of your neck. It helps with the nausea."
I did as instructed, surprised by her knowledge and willingness to help. "Thank you. I didn't expect—"
"To find me useful?" She raised an eyebrow. "I did raise a child, Isabella. I'm not completely incompetent in maternal matters."
I dabbed at my mouth with another cloth. "That's not what I meant. I just didn't expect your kindness."
A complicated expression crossed her face—something between annoyance and resignation. "Well, don't become accustomed to it. This is merely... a practical arrangement." She paused, watching me with sharp eyes. "Are you feeling well enough to leave now? I'd prefer not to spend my entire evening in a bathroom."
