Silas, seeing her hesitation, swung down from his perch. His boots echoed on the quiet street as he marched to the wrought-iron gate and struck the bell pull with a firm hand.
A Servant in crisp, dark livery opened the door a moment later. His eyes swept over Silas's travel-worn clothes, then over the humble carriage, his mouth twisting into a faint sneer of disbelief. He clearly doubted they belonged on his master's door step.
Inform General Blackthorn that his niece, Lady Layla, has arrived, Silas stated, his voice leaving no room for argument.
The servant gave a slow, disdainful nod and disappeared inside, closing the door with a soft, definitive click. They waited in the silent street. The door swung open again. General Henry Blackthorn himself filled the doorway. He looked just like his portrait tall, stem, his hair iron-grey, his posture rigid. His eyes, sharp and assessing,found Layla immediately. They held no warmth, only a cool appraisal.
You're late, he said his voice flat and devoid of welcome. ''I expected you hours ago. Come inside. he turned without another word, expecting them to follow.
The interior of the house swallowed them whole. Polished marble floors reflected the dim light from crystal sconces, and the air hung heavy with the the scent of beeswax and dried roses. General Henry led them into a drawing room full of dark, heavy furniture. He settled into a high-back chair, the master of his domain, his gaze sweeping over their small, travel-dusty group before settling on Layla.
A long silence stretched, broken only by the ticking of a grand clock. I heard about my brother, he said final, his voice like gravel. ''A shame. he offered no words about her mother. The omission hung in the air, a deliberate, cold slight.
The door opened again. Lady Jane glided in, wrapped in a silk dressing gown, her hair perfectly arranged even for sleep. She move with a practiced grace that spoke of a lifetime in these halls.
Her eyes scanned the room, landing on Layla, and for a single moment, surprise then something sharper-flashed in her gaze. Just as quickly, it vanished, replaced by a smooth porcelain smile.
Layla. My dear child. Welcome. her voice dripped with a honeyed warmth that did not reach her eyes, you must forgive the hour. The girls already retired for the night. You will meet everyone in the morning.
She clapped her hands softly. A sleepy looking maid appeared in the doorway. Show our guests to their rooms.'' her eyes flicked to Silas. The man can find quarters with the staff out back.
With that, Lady Jane looped her arm through her husband's. come Henry, dear. Let them rest. without another glance, the two of them turned and walked away, their footsteps echoing on the marble, leaving the four travelers standing in the cavernous room like forgotten parcels.
The maid gestured for them to follow, her expression blank.
Livia waited until the General and his wife disappeared around a corner. She rolled her eyes so hard it seemed a minor miracle they stayed in her head. well, she whispered, her voice thick with sarcasm. That just warmed my heart right up. I feel so welcomed.
Lucia shot her a warning look, but a similar frustration tightened her own mouth. Layla said nothing, just pulled her mother's shawl tighter around her shoulders. The grand house felt less like a home and more like a beautifully decorated cage. The morning, she feared, would bring only more chill formality.
The maid led them not to a room within the great house, but out a side door into the cool night air. Their path ended at a small, isolated cottage squatting at the far edge of the property, shrouded in shadows. A faint smell of damp rot and neglect hung about it.
The maid shoved the door open; it groaned on rusty hinges. Inside, moonlight filtered through a dusty window, illuminating a space choked with old furniture draped in sheets like ghost. Dust motes danced in the thin light.
The house holds many guests, the maid muttered, not meeting their eyes. We did not expect you. with that, she turned and hurried back toward the main house, her footsteps fading on the gravel path.
Livia stard after her, hands curling into fists. I'll drag her back by her scraggly hair! she hissed.
Lucia caught her sister's arm . stop. it changes nothing.
Layla took a deep breath, the musty air stinging her lungs. She forced her shoulders to relax, her face to remain a calm mask. Lucia speaks sense, she said, her voice steady. We need a place to sleep. Let's make it our for tonight. We can manage the rest in the morning.
She stepped inside, pulling a dust sheet from a moth-eaten sofa with a determined flourish.
In the master bedroom of the main house, General Henry already lay in the vast bed. Lady Jane stood by the window, her mind replaying the image of the girl in her foyer.
She possesses a startling beauty, Jane said, her back to her husband. don't you think?
A noncommittal grunt came from the bed.
Jane turned, a sly smile playing on her lips. She has her mother's eyes. Those same… striking green eyes.
Henry's eyes snapped open. He pushed himself up on his elbows. Why mention that woman?
Oh, Henry,dear, Jane sighed, feigning innocence. Must you cling to that old grudge? Your brother loved Elara. He chose her. You should find peace in that, even if her… origins… displeased you. He found happiness.
Enough, he cut in, his voice sharp. Let the dead rest. I felt no anger toward her. I despised my brother's foolish choice. he lay back down, turning away from her. Now, come to bed.
Jane slid in beside him, the silken sheet cool against her skin. She stared at the ornate canopy above, her pleasant smile dissolving into a hard, calculating line. That girl's face. Is that girl going to become a problem?
The dawn light pierced the dusty windows of the cottage, revealing the full extent of its neglect. The three women woke stiff and cold, but wasted no time. They threw open the shutters, letting in fresh air and a determined spirit. Lucia attacked the layers of grime with a wet cloth while Livia battled cobwebs with a broom. Layla sorted through the shrouded furniture, deciding what could be salvaged.
As they worked, a familiar rhythm returned, pushing back the gloom. Livia chuckled, shaking dust from a sheet. You know, once we see this shop, you might just stay. Find some fine city Lord with polished boots and a tame heart.
Layla laughed, the sound bright in the dusty room. and what? Leave my barley fields and prize heifers? I think not. But a fine Lord might enjoy our farm's honey. the shared joke lightened their labor.
The cottage door swung open without a knock. The same maid from the previous night stood there, her expression as pinched as before.
the Lady is required at the breakfast table, she announced, and turned on her heel, disappearing back toward the main house.