The carriage came to a slow stop in front of Harcourt Manor. The large golden doors swung open, casting a soft glow of candlelight onto the gravel path. Inside, gentle music floated through the air—refined and graceful, the kind that made everything feel a little too perfect to be real.
Isabella adjusted her gloves and stole a quick glance at her reflection in the window. Her dark hair was pinned up neatly with tiny pearl clips, and her emerald green dress hugged her in all the right places. The neckline dipped just low enough to turn heads, but not enough to cause gossip. Modest on the surface, just bold enough to leave Leofric completely distracted—Ella's words, not hers.
Leofric stepped out first and turned to offer his hand, eyes scanning her from head to toe. "You look edible," he muttered under his breath.
She arched an eyebrow, a teasing smirk tugging at her lips. "And you look positively bored already."
