He pushed them open, revealing a grand foyer with marble floors.

A sweeping staircase curved up to the second floor.

“Welcome to the Draven house,” Lucian said.

An older woman in a neat grey dress appeared from a side room.

“This is Mrs. Gable,” Lucian said.

“She will show you to your room.”

“We will discuss your duties in the morning.”

I nodded, too tired to speak.

Bishop followed me as I walked toward the staircase.

Mrs. Gable gave the dog a wide berth, her face pale.

“Follow me, miss,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

We walked up the grand staircase.

The walls were lined with large oil paintings in heavy gold frames.

Most of them were portraits of stern-looking men and women.

We turned down a long corridor lined with dark wood paneling.

The carpet beneath my feet was thick, swallowing the sound of our footsteps.

Mrs. Gable opened a door at the very end of the hall.

“This is the east wing,” she said.

“It is quiet here.”

She stepped aside to let me enter.

The room was massive, featuring a king-sized bed with dark velvet hangings.