ling painfully, though she ignored it. She grabbed Sophie's hand tightly. "Sophie, if yo

dy of the Carter family. Once I'm better, I'll hand over all the keys, the accounts, t

leanor's grip. The words un

r past life su

r hand, smiling, calling her the new lady of the house, only to

honest maid, Eleanor dismissed it,

ained to Daniel, "Sophie was too eager t

g Sophie like an outsider to guard against. Yet no

eanor's aged hand, swoll

fting to a sycamore tree outside the window. "Daniel made

n predict the futur

he sunlight softening her beautiful

ut her prepared pleas and p

s girl, whom she'd watched grow up,

ie tucked the blanket around he

ing, she spotted Lily Harvey s

a while, her face streaked with dried te

y, "can we... can we talk priva

her silently, nod

ched the

ce, the hospital's red roof nearby, the

n unexplained

know you look down on me, think I'm just a village

uring hardships you can't imagine. I never had the nice clothes other gir

you deserve someone better. But Daniel's all I have. Please, let us be. Leave him, leave th

d still, wa

Lily's tearfu

ophie's calm, unmoved gaze

er eyes dry, unable

"I've said all this, and you're not moved at

d her eyes, her tone

erced Lily's f

ing at Sophie's serene dem

echoed across