She couldn't help it. But at least the tears held in until the door clicked shut.
Counting the rhythm of his frantic heartbeat calmed her - it was good to know he was disoriented.
The loss of his warm body made her shiver. It felt like he took all the warmth in her with him.
Perhaps he did.
The tears flowed freely. She didn't know why her eyes leaked so much - they just did.
The thought of remaining as his servant broke her even more.
She couldn't look at him and pretend to just serve him wine - it was simply impossible.
Claire made up her mind - when she returned, her goal was to look after her sister and find the safest way to leave the castle.
To leave him.
To escape the strings that bound her so tightly.
Even if it meant marrying Zach.
The tears flowed until they stopped on their own. And gone was her ability to sleep. She dozed off early into the morning, dragging the covers up to her chin.
By morning, the maids arrived to assist her with her bath.
