Pleased by Gideon's warmth and strength, Lenore sleeps easily beside her, lulled by the steady drumbeat of Gideon's heart.

She wakes at sunset, her maid Greta already bustling around the room to prepare for the day's journey. Stirring sleepily, Lenore sits up, lingering to trail her fingertips over Gideon's chest and belly for a few extra moments before rising properly. They don't have real privacy here, not least due to Greta's presence, and Lenore wants to hasten on to their destination. She feels skittish about this entire journey, uncertain whether this is a trap or a fool's errand, and still with no good plan. She has two partial plans, one of which she has been hesitating whether to ask Gideon, with Gideon's loyalty still so new-forged and fragile.

While Greta starts carrying things out to repack the sleigh, Lenore takes advantage of a moment's privacy with Gideon, probably the only moment of privacy they'll have for at least a night. Cupping Gideon's cheek with one hand, Lenore draws her down into a fierce, needy kiss. Passionate though it is, Lenore doesn't allow it to linger before she looks up at Gideon with a worried frown. "I have to ask something miserable of you."