The invitation from Parliament did not arrive with ceremony.
It came folded into a plain envelope, delivered by courier late in the morning, its wax seal already cracked by the time it reached Phillip's hands. No crests. No formal summons. Just a neat line of script requesting his presence in London the following week, "for discussion."
Phillip read it once, then set it aside without comment.
Henry watched from the table. "You're not even going to pretend to be irritated?"
Phillip shrugged out of his coat and hung it by the door. "I already said I would go."
"That's not what I asked."
Phillip crossed the room and poured himself tea. "I'm not irritated. I'm curious."
Henry raised an eyebrow. "That's worse."
