“Penny, what are they—” Helena didn’t get the whole question out as she was shoved towards her room.
Penny leaned over the arm of the chair, looking back, her face stricken. “You were right. I’m so sorry. We should have listened to you.”
There was no time to ask what she meant. The orderly sped up, and Penny disappeared.
“I’m delivering you today,” Stroud said, walking in with a stack of files she was immersed in. She’d been increasingly distracted every time Helena saw her. “Get ready.”
“I’m leaving?”
Stroud looked up and gave an irritated, nervous smile. “Yes. Central has other purposes. The High Reeve has been waiting for you. Come. Now.”
There was no readying for Helena to do. She was bundled into the lift with nothing but the clothes on her back and a pair of wool slippers too l
