Bella's POV
I pulled up to the Duke's Estate with my people, but the gatekeeper blocked our path, shifting nervously on his feet.
"Viscountess," he stammered, clearly uncomfortable, "your servants can't come in." Jasper had obviously given him strict orders—if I showed up, I had to enter alone.
Since my status had changed, he didn't dare be outright rude. His tone was deliberately gentle.
Martha's expression turned thunderous. "How dare you stop the Viscountess? Are you looking for trouble?
"Lady Ursula is dying, and the Viscountess is here to save her. If something happens to Lady Ursula because you're blocking us, can you handle the fallout?"
Martha usually kept her head down and never pulled rank, even though she was one of the estate's senior staff.
But with Ursula's life hanging in the balance, she showed her steel.
As Ursula's long-time attendant, she still carried weight around here.
The gatekeeper was nobody special and couldn't afford to cross anyone.
