Adena arrived exactly the way she always did, loud, unannounced despite three separate letters confirming her arrival time, and trailing at least twice as much luggage as any reasonable summer holiday required.
"I'm here!" She called out the door of her carriage. She jumped down with a kind of joy, Eleanore couldn't describe. "Did you two miss me? Be honest."
"We survived," Eleanore said dryly, appearing from the kitchen with a glass of water in hand. "Barely."
"Rude. I brought gifts." Adena dropped one of her bags dramatically onto the hall at the entrance and began digging through it with the enthusiasm of someone who had clearly forgotten what was actually inside. "Somewhere in here. I promise."
