The following morning arrived beneath clear skies and a gentle warmth that settled across the Estate.
Sunlight spilled through the tall rows of cypress and oak, illuminating carefully sculpted hedges and flowerbeds whose colors stood vivid beneath the lingering dew.
Servants had already begun their routines long before sunrise, their quiet footsteps drifting through polished hallways as breakfast was prepared.
Inside the breakfast room, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the eastern gardens where swans glided peacefully across the estate's expansive pond.
The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered through the room, accompanied by warm bread, eggs, fruit and several carefully arranged breakfast dishes laid neatly across the long table.
Miss Claire sat gracefully near one end, already dressed for the day ahead.
A cream-colored blazer rested comfortably over her shoulders while matching tailored trousers flowed neatly toward polished heels.
