CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Hailey spent the whole day alone, wandering through the palace and its grounds aimlessly. She didn’t see Duncan all day, not even during lunch when she had hoped he might join them but he didn’t. She ate her meals in silence, feeling increasingly isolated. When dinner time neared, she held out hope that Duncan would join them, believing that work had kept him away throughout lunch. But as the minutes passed, it became evident he was not arriving.

Luna Grace noticed Hailey's distraught appearance and as if she was reading her mind, she turned to one of the maids and asked, "Where is my son?"

The servant replied, “He’s in the study, Luna Grace. He orders that no one disturb him"

"How about dinner? Luna Grace asked

"He said he wasn't interested in dinner." The maid explained

Grace nodded, an insistent expression sweeping her face. "I'll take his dinner to him myself," she replied, rising and going to the kitchen to grab a tray of food. Hailey watched her go, feeling both grateful and