Faye's POV
"You..." Eileen's words died in her throat, her face cycling through shock and annoyance like she couldn't decide which emotion to settle on.
She stared at me as if I'd grown a second head, clearly not expecting any pushback from her supposedly obedient daughter. "Faye, how dare you speak such words?"
Her eyes darted around the tent like she expected palace guards to materialize from the shadows and drag us both away for treason.
"I believe Lord Hardy wants me dead," I whispered, letting my voice shake just enough to sell the fear. "The servant who brought the tea... she wore the same uniform as his soldiers. She said he ordered it personally. Mother, we have to tell the King about this. We have to annul the marriage before he succeeds in killing me. Please, you have to help me."
