Edith nodded slowly. Her brain was moving like molasses. She processed the words "Carcel" and "room."
"Okay," Edith mumbled, closing her eyes for a second. "You want me to get the Duke into your room? I'll go and do that now."
She pushed herself off the doorframe, turning as if to go get dressed to run an errand. She thought Ines was asking her to send a message.
Ines grabbed Edith's shoulders. She shook her gently.
"No," Ines hissed. "The Duke IS in my room."
Edith stopped.
She stood very still.
Slowly, the words filtered through the fog of sleep.
The Duke. Is. In the room.
Edith's eyes flew open. They went from narrow slits to wide saucers in an instant. The sleep disappeared as if someone had thrown a bucket of ice water on her.
"The Du—" Edith started to shout.
Ines's hand flew up and clamped over Edith's mouth.
"Shhh!" Ines warned, her eyes fierce. "No one else knows."
Edith stared at Ines over the hand covering her mouth. She nodded frantically against Ines's palm.
