#14. To Her Hometown (2)

The long, long breakfast that had felt like sitting on a bed of thorns for Eleonore finally came to a quiet end.

Fortunately, Albris didn’t bring up Dmitri again. He stuck to the sort of things one could chat about over a meal, like how Eleonore turned out to be a better drinker than expected or stories about the people they’d met and greeted together.

Even when the conversation turned to other subjects, though, Eleonore couldn’t help feeling self-conscious. She had felt firsthand just how much Albris—and everyone in this family—loved her.

Sigh… How am I supposed to bring this up with my parents? Dad won’t collapse, will he…?

After that uncomfortable breakfast came the morning tea hour.

Usually Eugenie or Albris would have been with her, but now Eleonore was alone. She sat by herself in the enormous drawing room, sipping hot tea as steam curled from the cup.

Albris had said he had something to check and gone to his study after breakfast. Normally, Eleonore would have asked what it was, but today she let him go without a word.

If she found out what he had to check, she might not be able to face him for the rest of the day.

Eugenie was still nowhere to be seen.

I wonder if she finished the broccoli soup I sent up, Eleonore thought, setting the fragrant teacup down on the table...