"Can you wait for me here for a little bit," Ella instructed Maria as she stepped down from the carriage, her fingers lingering on the doorframe longer than necessary, as though courage might seep into her through polished wood. "It's been a while since I left home and I just want to pass by and say hello."
Maria nodded with a gentle smile, folding her hands neatly before her. "Of course my lady. Take all the time you need, I will wait right here for you."
Ella returned the smile, though hers was thinner, stretched over nerves that refused to settle. She turned toward the tall iron gates of the Morrell estate, her boots crunching softly against the gravel as she approached.
Each step felt heavier than the last and her heart beat like a war drum in her chest.
Whatever William knew… it wasn't small and it wasn't harmless. It was the kind of truth that cracked foundations and shuttered relationships, and Ella was standing right in the middle of one.
