lt an overpowering urge to flee, either back into the room to lock herself away

had ever hoped to see, not this morn

yielding. The older woman's eyes seemed to pierce through her, the weight of her pre

escaped her lips. She just stood there,

reet?" Lady Frances's voice sliced

a fli

hom you killed couldn't have afforded if they were still alive!" Lady Frances spat the words like ve

stepped back as the

d. Tell me, how do you think you are going to survive in t

ar in her eyes was plain, and it onl

umb? You can't even defend yourself?" she taun

. "Bad-luck child... cursed child from a cursed family. You are far too low for

's tear-brimmed eyes. Sophia's body trembled, and when she co

n satisfaction, this was exa

and I... we love each other," So

before the words even finished leaving her mou

you about love? What do you, a silly little girl

wed freely, her body s

pressed on. "This isn't love, it is destruction. You hate him, and that

dripped wi

a stubborn mule who no longer listens to hi

e dropped to the c

houldn't you be at work, like other women your age? Instead

ging cheek, her sobs mak

a deep breath, her tone lowe

s to you, in this house again. By this evening, I will bring a real

wife? For Oswald? The tho

ances barked, snappin

d, Sophia turned an

onal item she owned, tossing them into the small box she had broug

Lady Frances appeared in the doorway, arms folde

ut, her sobs echoing through the hall. She didn't look back as she left the house, crossed the comp

eard everything. They exchanged gla

ispered, her voice trembling. "She never ma

another admitted. "Who will tell us our fo

ut their conversation died abruptly

r went

don't concern you," she said col

ll my son what happened here. If I

ed them t

ade mysel

hey murmured, nod

rowed h

top nodding

ady!" they

ng and serve me," she s

eturned to work, th

*

she had been demoralized before, n

' she thought. No parents, no sibli

er body as she col

mind: 'By evening, I am bringing in

ald. He

ejected her, the people, society, and now ev

m in another woman's ar

one with love,

*

ents earlier, he had come home from work expecting to find he

gain and again, but

othing. But the guards, in hushed voices, told

er had b

jumped into his car and

ing on her door,

pen the do

e gree

in his gut. He kicked the

s still, unn

acked as he moved thro

ed her bedroo

motionless

bottle, a folded note

nd inhaled, there was no scent, no label he could

e her, shaking her gentl

e and his eyes rac

vision. The paper

ripped through the room a

was