Upon entering the estate, Roger and I proceeded without much discussion down the long corridor toward the room where our lessons usually took place.
As the host, he suggested that I first relax in the living room and have a cup of tea.
However, I politely declined. I did not want to prolong my stay here any longer than necessary. Internally, I was composed and focused on the upcoming lessons. Every minute seemed important, and I did not want to waste time on unnecessary formalities.
Every extra hour I spent at this estate now felt like a trial to me.
We walked side by side through the spacious hall, where the floors were covered with a deep wine-colored carpet.
"I hope the journey wasn't too tiring," Roger remarked as he walked beside me.
"It was tolerable," I replied curtly. "It was a clear day, so the journey was uneventful."
"I'm glad to hear it," he said quietly and nodded slightly. A slight, almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of his lips.
