Chapter 5

"The view is much more peaceful here than in the hall." A calm male voice came from just beside me.

It was Joseph.

Somehow, he too had left the crowd and now stood only a few paces away.

Withdrawing my gaze, I spoke in a low, emotionless voice, "Peace is hard to come by."

A brief silence hung between us.

He didn't say anything, but he didn't walk away either.

"Ms. Evans," he finally said, his gaze still averted.

"Back in the hall, you were definitely the center of attention," he remarked.

I gave a faint, wry smile.

"Oh, I…