The carriage wheels made a low, unhappy sound as they rolled over the hard, frozen ground. Every time a wheel hit a bump or a stone, the whole carriage shook. The shaking went right up through the floor and into the seat, rattling Anthea’s bones. She sat very straight, her back not touching the soft velvet behind her. Her hands were covered in fine leather gloves, and she twisted her fingers together. The gloves made a soft creaking sound with each movement.

At her feet was a large wooden ...