Chapter 19

• ELOISE
• The mansion’s veranda appeared somber, especially under the shade of gray clouds that hung to the sky like a heavy shroud. The early morning air was moist with the scent of rain-soaked soil, and steady showers played a gentle rhythm on the grounds.
• I was dressed in a casual coral sundress that Nina chose for me. She said it was fitting for the morning meal, but I felt the color didn’t match my mood and the dull ambiance of the place.