Leo's shock was nothing compared to what happened next. Before he could respond, the sound of my clutch hitting the floor echoed in the suddenly quiet hallway. I turned to find Beatrice standing behind us, her face pale as she stared at the marriage certificate still in Leo's hands.
"Elara," she whispered, "is this true?"
I stepped toward her, nodding slowly. "Yes. That's what I've been trying to tell you."
Leo recovered enough to hand me back the certificate. "I—I should find Arthur. He needs to know about this... situation."
As Leo hurried away, Beatrice reached for my arm, her grip surprisingly strong for someone so frail. "We need to get your bag and leave. This is too much excitement for one night."
I agreed, relieved at the chance to retreat and explain everything properly. We turned down the hallway leading to the private lounge where I'd left my belongings earlier.
When we reached the door, I tried the handle only to find it locked.
