the small window of her room. Her body ached from the previous day's events, but she forced herself up, dressed quickly, and made her way to the kitchen as instructed. The kitchen, tho

girl," a sharp voice

pression and her hair tied back into a severe bun. She wore

r," the woman said briskly. "You're t

am," Elen

m, dust the library shelves, and prepare the guest bedrooms for inspection. A

tting room was like something out of a magazine: plush carpets, ornate chandeliers, and furniture that looked too expensive to touch. As she dusted the elaborate bookshelves, h

are

. He was in his late twenties, with tousled brown hair and a relaxed d

eplied, her vo

as though tasting it. "Ah, you're the

the one she had heard about in passing. From what she knew, he had b

rrified," Daniel said with a

na lied, forcing herself

ight attitude to have in this house." He studied her for a moment b

g cloth. "My family owes your fa

ed slightly. "Of course. C

er's voice rang out from the hallwa

e. "Duty calls. Don't let th

was short-lived. It was dangerous to interact with someon

iling. Dust motes danced in the sunlight streaming through the tall windows. Elena w

only when necessary, their footsteps muffled against the thick carpets. It was as th

hed, and her stomach growled. She returned to the kitchen, h

s Elena entered. "There's soup on the stove. Eat

warm meal. As she ate, she listened to the murmurs of the o

a next week," one of the maids said. "The gues

austing for us,"

n of the gala. A gathering of powerful people at the estate mi

guest bedrooms, Lydia Harr

one sharp. "I trust you're

ed, keeping her eyes on t

"You'll find that this household operates on discipline and respe

am," Elen

nish quickly. The family will be dining shortly,

e thought of being in the same room a

ped tightly in front of her. Mr. Harrington sat at the head of the long table,

gton said, his voice sharp. "Yet you've done not

his expression bored. "That's bec

nored her. "I've seen what this family's 'bu

. "Careful, Daniel. You don't

mirked.

he listened. There was clearly more to this family than w

her eye and gave her a faint, encouraging nod. It wa

l day at the estate. The Harringtons were as powerful and dange

mined to find out. If she was to endure this life, she needed to

or answers would soon uncover tru