Bella's POV
I stayed perfectly still, my icy stare locked on the matron.
On the surface, I appeared calm, but my mind was already tracing every twist and turn of our path here.
One thing was crystal clear—if I walked into that room today, I wouldn't be walking out in one piece.
"What's the holdup?" the maid pressed, worry flickering across her features when she noticed my hesitation at the threshold.
I flashed a smile. "I think I lost my hairpin somewhere along the way. Need to backtrack and find it."
Without waiting for a response, I spun around and started retracing my steps.
The matron quickly stepped into my path. "Don't worry yourself about it, Your Ladyship. I'll have someone search for it. The celebration's starting soon—you should get changed now."
My lips curved into a knowing smile as I met her gaze head-on. "Why are you so hell-bent on getting me inside that room?"
My piercing stare made the matron's blood run cold.
