To be honest, I really didn't expect us to leave the tea party so soon. Things clearly didn't turn out quite as I had planned.
Nevertheless, since it was Rubiella's wish, I wasn't going to argue. After all, I certainly had no intention of forcing the girl to do anything against her will.
So, less than an hour after our arrival, we were already on our way back to the estate. The wheels of the carriage tapped steadily on the cobblestone road, creating a rhythm that made me want to think about too many things.
Ruby sat across from me in the carriage. She was looking out the window, and her reflection in the glass seemed almost ghostly. Her eyes, usually lively and sparkling with curiosity, were now full of excitement and a kind of adult thoughtfulness that was not at all characteristic of a child.
I took a deep breath. Outside, the green treetops flashed by, and flashes of sunlight slid across her face, but she seemed oblivious to it all. The silence was becoming heavy.
