Sunlight streamed through the ornate windows of Ryan's study, illuminating the stacks of maps and reports sprawled across his desk. Ryan, his brow furrowed in concentration, leaned over a parchment, scribbling notes with a quill. Across from him sat Thorne.
"We leave the day after tomorrow, then," Thorne confirmed, his voice gruff but steady.
Ryan nodded, his gaze momentarily flickering away from the document. "Yes, we can't waste any time. These reports are disturbing, to say the least."
Thorne leaned back in his chair, his tired face etched with concern. "Indeed."
A brief silence settled over the room, broken only by the scratching of quill on paper. Ryan's hand, however, hovered slightly above the document, a flicker of worry clouding his eyes.
"The Duchess," Thorne finally started, noticing the shift in Ryan's demeanor. "Should I arrange additional security at her residence during your absence?"
