Ashley quietly rose from his chair and gently pushed the sealed envelope across the table toward her. "This belongs to you."
She looked down at it. The crimson royal seal was still unbroken, and her fingers tightened slightly against her lap.
Ashley paused beside her chair. "I'll give you some time."
Emma didn't look up. She simply kept her eyes on the envelope as he turned and walked toward the door.
Just before stepping out, Ashley stopped and glanced back at her. "When Brandon wrote that letter..." His voice softened, and he paused for a moment. "He wasn't sure he would ever see you again."
Ashley hesitated, then continued, "The secret investigation was supposed to last only a few months, but Samuel and his cohorts were far more determined to take control of the kingdom than Brandon had expected. What should have taken a few months stretched into two long winters, and by the time the investigation finally ended, far more had happened than any of us anticipated."
