Chapter 26 Shadows Return

The manor had grown quieter over the past few days, but not in the peaceful way Isabella had hoped. There was a tension in the air—subtle but unrelenting. Something in the rhythm of the house had shifted. The fresh flowers in the east parlor—Isabella’s favorite lilies—were gone, replaced with cold white orchids. The cozy armchair in the sunroom had been moved, as if someone were reclaiming space. The staff, usually warm and chatty, now moved with careful restraint.