Maria was pacing in circles across her room, the hem of her gown fluttering around her ankles as she moved restlessly from one end to another.
Her face was pale with worry and she had barely slept the night before.
After all, she couldn't stop thinking that something had gone wrong.
When she had come back from her bath last night, she'd expected to see Joy and Carmela sitting where she'd left them.
They were just there a moment ago.
But when she stepped back into the room, it was empty, and their voices were gone.
At first, she thought nothing of it.
Maybe they had gone out for a walk.
Maybe they were chatting somewhere.
So she waited. And waited.
But the hours passed.
Midnight came and went. And still, they didn't return.
By morning, the beds were still untouched and the silence in the room felt unnatural.
She had asked the maids—every single one she could find—but all had shaken their heads with clueless expressions.
No one had seen Joy or Carmela since last evening.
