Solveig’d spent the last couple of days in her room utterly alone with the exception of a run in with Klaus. She’d found being drunk and having no cares suited her well in the depressed state she’d been in since fighting with Matthias. Something in the back of her mind had reminded her though, if she kept hiding, people would start talking. It was bad enough the prince was being seen without his normal guard, she didn’t need rumors about her circulating on top of everything. Of course, after reading the card she’d been given several times, she was ready to call off her attempts at going out. What a cruel joke it was that her only connection would be with Katrien.
Dressed to the nines as though nothing had happened though, she walked into the dining room. Matthias was the first person she’d spotted, a trait developed from years of having to pick him out in a crowd, and suddenly her chest was heavy and her eyes stung. Grabbing a glass of champagne quickly she made her way out to the adjoined back patio. Muttering a number of expletives as she stepped outside, she took notice of the person already there for the first time. “Sorry,” she said, clearing her throat softly and standing up a little straighter. “I thought I was alone.”













