A sudden movement of the carriage pulled Penelope from sleep.
Her body shifted sharply against the cushioned seat, and her shoulder struck the side of the carriage hard enough to make her eyes fly open.
For several seconds, she had no idea where she was, until she blinked. The interior of the carriage was dim, and the steady rocking she had grown accustomed to was gone.
Penelope slowly straightened, her brows drawing together as she tried to gather her thoughts. She had fallen asleep. She had not even realized it.
The last thing she remembered was looking through the carriage window and thinking about her father. After that, there was nothing.
For a moment, she could still hear her father's voice, and her throat tightened.
Her body was soaked in sweat. Penelope wiped her face with the back of her hand and looked through the window again.
The scenery had changed. The road was narrower now, and the trees had grown denser.
