Penelope shot a desperate look toward the gatekeeper, silently praying he'd bend the rules just this once.
The gatekeeper's face remained stone-cold as he brushed aside the offered money with a shake of his head. "Miss Fairfax refuses all visitors," he stated bluntly.
Even though Penelope hadn't announced herself, the gatekeepers instantly spotted the unmistakable Fairfax family carriage.
These men were Julian's loyal guards—they knew every detail of Bella's circumstances.
Given her exile, they understood she'd never agree to meet anyone bearing the Fairfax name.
Penelope stumbled forward, her voice cracking with raw desperation. "Please, just tell her I'm here. Yes, I'm a Fairfax, but right now I'm nothing more than a terrified mother.
My boy Dominic has been burning with fever for days. I'm begging the miracle healer to save him!"
In the freezing air, Penelope cradled her weakened son Dominic, creating a scene that would break any heart.
