"It was terrible, Miss Ashford," Nanny Flora confessed, her voice thick with distress. "Mr. Kane and Mrs. Vivienne were going out for the evening, leaving the little miss alone with me. One of her toys started making noise in the dark, and little miss was so frightened she ran out crying, begging her mother to stay with her. But they were in a rush to leave."
The nanny's hands twisted in her apron. "Miss Mila just wanted comfort. She asked to sleep in her mother's room, but Mr. Kane refused. He told her she was too old to be afraid, and that she must sleep alone because she would soon be sent away to a hostel. He said no one would be there for her when that happened."
Elena's jaw tightened, outrage flickering in her eyes. She hugged the little one closer, feeling the child's tears soak through her sleeve.
"He said that?" she whispered, incredulous.
