The heavy parchment felt cool in Ryan's hand. He had returned to his study with Davis immediately after leaving Suzy at the picnic spot, the news of Commander Thorne's arrival a burning coal in his mind.
He broke the seal with a flick of his thumb, his eyes scanning the neat, slightly hurried script. The very first sentence leaped out at him, stark and chilling:
There's a spy in your household, Your Grace.
Ryan's blood ran cold for an instant, his gaze instinctively flicking towards the closed study door, a sudden unease prickling his skin. A spy. Here, in Carleton Hall, within his own trusted circle. " I thought I killed all the spies here after Evan's death." He thought to himself.
He read on, Thorne's words painting a grim picture of betrayal and hidden observation.
