One of the decorators’ hands tightened around Cleopatra’s shoulder, grounding her in the moment.
“If Guinevere were even half this stunning, we’d all be doomed,” someone murmured from the shadows, their voice a mix of awe and reluctant relief. “Thank God she isn’t.”
Joss’s smile faded into something more thoughtful. “This is the first time I’ve seen her so disorganized,” he said quietly. “She’s never acted like this before. Almost as if she’s afraid of something, something I can’t quite put a name to yet.”
Cleopatra laughed softly, sensing the direction the conversation was heading and stepping in before it could take a sharper turn. “Maybe she’s just tired,” she said lightly, her tone easy and dismissive, neatly closing the subject. She gently removed his hand from her shoulder, her ca
