Chapter 37: Between Carinthia and Her Lord

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌‌⁠The earl’s easy grace of manner was a ceremonial mantle on him as he grasped the situation in a look. He bent with deferential familiarity to his countess, exactly toning the degree of difference which befitted a salute to the two gentlemen, amiable or hostile.

‘There and back?’ he said, and conveyed a compliment to Carinthia’s pedestrian vigour in the wary smile which can be recalled for a snub.

Sh