Clarissa walked into the house with a neutral expression, though her heart twinkled with excitement about the upcoming events. She wished she could share more of that excitement with her sister until the day finally arrived.
Striding further into the house toward the staircase, she halted when a maid approached her.
The maid offered a slight bow. "Welcome, Miss," she greeted, lifting her head.
"I'm starving. Is dinner ready?" Clarissa asked, sounding exhausted.
"We're almost done with it, but Elder Gilbert has yet to return."
Clarissa glanced around but didn't see her mother anywhere and wondered where she could be.
"What about my mother?"
"Madam Leah is in the studio. She requests your presence there," the maid replied.
The way she delivered the message stirred an uneasy feeling inside Clarissa. She hoped the guards hadn't mentioned her whereabouts to her mother.
"Is she furious?"
