"Let's meet again in the future, Lady Verona."
"I'm waiting for your next tea party."
"Lady Verona, I wish nothing but success for you and your business."
Verona moved among the ladies, accepting their well-wishes and securing promises for future visits to her upcoming boutique.
One by one, the noblewomen bowed their heads and boarded their carriages. As the last door clicked shut and the sound of hooves faded into the distance, the silence that settled over the Aldenar estate was profound. The lanterns were beginning to flicker, their golden light struggling against the deepening blue of the twilight.
Verona turned back toward the fountain, her shoulders finally dropping an inch. The exhaustion was a heavy cloak, but the fire in her eyes hadn't dimmed.
Verona lingered by the fountain a moment longer, listening to the water.
