Something about Vivienne had changed. I couldn't explain exactly what it was, but I had learned enough about her to recognize when she was pretending.
For the past several days, she had been strangely pleasant.
She no longer interrupted council meetings, she stopped making obvious comments about my bloodline and she had even begun complimenting me in front of other nobles.
It should have made things easier. Instead, it made me suspicious.
I was sitting in the library one afternoon when Vivienne approached carrying several books.
"May I sit with you?" She asked and I looked up.
"You can." I said.
She took the chair opposite me and for several moments, she said nothing but then she sighed.
"I owe you an apology." She said and I closed the book in front of me.
"For what?" I asked.
