t mean to fi

were done, and Rosa hadn't given her more work, which was rare. So she wandered, qu

when she pu

ain and dust. The flowers were overgrown, untamed, and some were long

e,

at the cloudy sky. For a few precious minutes, the weigh

ow why she st

mother used to hum when she

oft. A whisper.

ing the hall wh

pped.

That wing of the house was old, filled with m

owed th

. Sitting alone. Head tilted back, eyes closed, lips mo

st moment, Luc

t bre

e sound

ed her eyes

tartled, eyes wide with f

be here," Lucien said, h

"I thought it was abandoned. I

his shoes crunching against t

an l

at the dead roses and tangled ivy. The bench whe

d, "You wer

"I didn't mean to. I

her. "Your vo

"I wasn't tryin

why

"To feel...

le

ced at the

he said quietly, almost to h

respond. She d

en you're done with your duties. But don

esitated

ere." His gaze was sharp again.

ded. "Y

ned to

he said, "You don't sound li

n he wa

But she sat on the bench and stared up at the same cloudy sky, wondering about t

e shadows upstairs, behind his window,

at he was start