The official transfer documentation arrived from the eastern administrative office on a Monday, confirming Richard Halverin's permanent reassignment to the eastern posting he had requested. The documentation was routine in its form and significant in its finality.
He came to the estate on the Wednesday before his scheduled departure.
I was in the study when Eli appeared in the doorway.
"Lord Halverin is here," Eli said. "He asked if you had a few minutes."
I set down what I was doing. "Yes. The east sitting room."
Eli nodded and went.
Darius was at the other end of the study, reviewing the duchy's winter administrative schedule. He did not comment on the announcement. He simply continued reading, with the particular quality of deliberate focus that was his way of giving a situation the space it required.
I went to the east sitting room.
