That smile was utterly creepy. It wasn’t that the man didn’t know how to smile—on the contrary, his chiseled features and fine teeth accented the gesture well—it was the fact that it felt so natural despite her knowing it was not. How many people did he lure in with the honey of polite conversation and elegant parties without them realizing they were tools? If he wanted them, they would be treated well, and if they defied him, there would be nothing but a road of obstacles in whatever it was they were trying to achieve.

[i]How unfortunate this is, getting mixed up with him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he shut down any boats chartering back to Gesen just to keep me here. That is within his realm of power, isn’t it?[/i] Cicely sighed, getting up from the sofa with some difficulty. The velvet cushions had been very soft, after all, and sitting in them for some time had made her sink deeper than she’d realized. Perhaps everything in the earl’s study was a trap in some form, too.

She angled herself away from him as she brought the documents closer to her face for inspection. As far as she could tell, everything was in order. While it did give her some relief to know she’d have an income again (the sum she’d been given to study abroad had been rather paltry, sadly), however, she had the distinct impression that the earl wouldn’t have given her the permissions if he hadn’t been certain that she would accept his offer. He didn’t seem like a man to back down.

Not to mention the time (and undoubtedly, money) he’d spent in learning so much about her. Even if she left the castle immediately, there was a good chance she’d be watched at the inn, too. Just how many citizens were in on the earl’s plans for her? Or perhaps it was just a matter of bribery…

“If you don’t mind, I actually would care to return for the inn. It’s quite a hospitable place.” Cicely smirked, finally heading towards the door. “After all, I could hardly impose upon an earl.”