"Come on… you don't have to feel so dejected over something that didn't happen!"
I ignored Sven, who was walking beside me down this pavement. I was holding the chicken skewer in my hand, keeping silent as I dwelled on the thought of the innocent boys. Sven was right. My body and mind and my heart still thought I was being watched and my initial reaction was for those boys not to be targeted in case the duke had sent people to follow my shadow.
"I nearly struck him…" came out a lament under my breath. "… that poor boy simply wants to uplift my mood but…"
My lips quivered, utterly disappointed at myself. This was one of the many reasons I didn't want to go out. The duke doesn't terrify me, but I was never free from him. All this time, I kept looking over my shoulders, wondering if he was watching me or anything of the sort.
"Good gracious… bless her heart." Sven's comments weren't also helping.
"I want to go back."
"Home?"
