I had been stuck here for almost a week, and every passing hour made the walls feel like they were closing in. Staying indoors was a dreadful, suffocating experience. I had essentially barricaded myself in the guestroom to avoid Lucien, and thankfully, he seemed to have taken the hint. He left me alone, though the silence of the estate felt more like a predatory wait than a peace offering.The staff moved like ghosts, their footsteps muffled by carpets that cost more than my entire education.

I ...