Hearing this question, Diana stared at Maria with a disbelieving gaze.
One second.
Just one single second.
But in that second, Maria's mind raced through a thousand anxious thoughts.
Was Diana going to make fun of her?
Would she say that Maria wasn't suitable, that she was too old, too damaged by her past, too devoted to the church to even entertain such thoughts?
Would she be suspicious about why Maria was asking, wonder if there was some hidden motive behind the question?
Maria's heart pounded, her hands growing clammy.
And then—
Diana's lips twitched.
Her eyes crinkled at the corners.
And before Maria could process what was happening, Diana threw her head back and laughed.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Not her usual elegant giggle. Not the polite, refined chuckle she used in social situations where she covered her mouth with her hand.
No—this was a full, unrestrained, belly-deep laugh that made her lean back in her chair and let out sounds Maria had never heard from her before.
