CHAPTER 26
The winter winds lingered longer than they had in years past. Or was it just that the days seemed longer? Grief had a funny way of distorting time. Kaspian had thrown himself into his work, preparing for the spring planting, absorbing all he could about lordship from Mama, and yet it was never enough to distract him. Working in Tata’s study, there were a hundred different reminders of him. His books, the phantom scent of him that clung to the tapestry and the chair. At any moment, he expected Tata to walk in through that door and scold him for daring to sit in his place.
But this was who he was now. Lord of Rubin.
He had accepted his fate. The duty he had run from had nearly cost him Mama. There was no turning back now.
Outside the window, the clouds rolled away and shafts o
