Had he touched his lips to hers like an inexperienced boy? Angrily, he shoved the thought out of his mind and raked his hand through his hair. He spent too much time on this. He stood in the tower room. The high perch had been his favorite place in the Manor as a lad, and he ran his hand over the table, smiling at the memory of warm fires and the safety he always felt here. There was little furniture. A table, chair, bed, a long mirror—and the secrets of his past. He rarely came here since Letty died. He wasn’t sure why he was here now. He stood at the window to enjoy the sun peeking over the horizon and brightening the day. His shoulders relaxed and calmness began to spread through him. He looked down at the village gate and saw the woman greet the guard while she waited for him to open the gate for the day. She started down the path to the forest edge. The guards reported her morning routine but he had never witnessed it. He breathed in the earthy scent. He always felt at peace here.
