"His Majesty said that he would like to meet his new son-in-law," Duke Ferguson explained. "After all, his daughter had been gone from Reaweth for far too long and it's perfectly normal for a father to wish to meet his daughter's partner."
"With all due respect, Duke Ferguson," Atticus started to say, "King Cyrus had not expressed any concern for my wife ever since she married into Vramid. Why now, when the place my wife least needs to be is Reaweth?"
"His Majesty simply misses his blood and flesh," Duke Ferguson replied.
Although, Daphne did not miss the way the duke's lips wobbled with uncertainty. There was only so much a person could lie before their mask slips and Duke Ferguson was not skilled in lying. After all, it was Drusilla who was the consummate lawyer.