"I don't think you should attend any social gatherings for now," Lady Rowena said, arranging a vase of fresh flowers on the side table near where I sat. "Not with your mother's return causing such a stir in society. Everyone will bombard you with questions."
I sighed, placing a protective hand over my still-flat stomach. "I wasn't planning to attend anything soon anyway. The morning sickness alone would make it unbearable."
Lady Rowena nodded approvingly. "Good. Your condition requires rest, especially in these early months."
She had been surprisingly attentive since learning of my pregnancy, offering advice that, while sometimes overbearing, came from a genuine place of concern. Our relationship had transformed into something I never could have imagined when I first entered the Thorne household.
"I've been thinking," I said, watching her carefully arrange each bloom, "about Melisande."
"Your half-sister?" Lady Rowena paused, giving me a questioning look.
