The morning unfolded slowly in the mansion, sunlight spilling across the polished floors as Val moved through her routine. She let the steam from her tea curl against her face as she sat by the window, the garden stretching wide in full bloom, humming faintly with the voices of staff going about their duties. Everything felt steady, almost ordinary—yet her eyes kept wandering to the unfamiliar figure working along the edge of the grounds.

He was new. She could tell by the way he ...