Take Her Mind Off of It

Leonor had enjoyed their long break from travel, but by the time they left, she was more than ready to get back on the trail. 

With blankets around her, windows covered with curtains, and hot stones underneath the seat to keep her and the duke warm, she was back to silently observing the processes around her and accepting the path that she had no control over. 

The years at the academy and the beginning of her marriage, she was entirely resistant to having others choose her path or control her travel, but now that she was settled in her relationship, she found it easy to go with the flow. She trusted Desmond to lead her to safety no matter what. It was such a relief to not be on guard all the time. 

They started traveling early because the trail ahead was easy but it was long. They wouldn't reach Villalac until very late in the evening.