The atmosphere in the Duke's study was thick enough to choke a horse.
I stood in the center of the room, my posture perfect, my chin tilted just enough to show I wasn't afraid. I was no longer wearing a stolen maid's outfit or an oversized shirt. I was wearing a deep crimson gown that hugged the curves of my upper body and stretched into a nice flare skirt, with black lace sewn at the hems.
The dress made my golden eyes look like molten coins. It was one of the dresses I acquired without knowing when I would get to wear it.
To my left, Caelum stood like a statue carved from ice, his face pale and his jaw locked tight. And to my right, Julian was a mess of nervous energy, his hands clenched at his sides, and his gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
Neither of them knew I was the one who had tipped off their father. They probably thought a servant had talked, or that they had been too careless with their recent activities, and the Duke noticed.
