Nina laughed."You should hear how the maids are talking about you."
My stomach sank. "Oh no. Nina.”
"They're terrified of you."
I covered my face with my hands.
Nina dissolved into giggles. "They're actually calling you 'Lady Lara' now! One of the girls nearly passed out when she realized she'd ordered a high-and-mighty lady to dig up cabbages in the pack garden this morning."
A laugh escaped me as Nina's smile softened.
"I'm happy for you, Lara."
The teasing disappeared completely from her voice. "You finally have a family that knows who you are."
Emotion tightened my throat. I looked away before she could see it but Nina saw anyway.
She always did.
Slowly, she squeezed my hand.
"And this time," she said quietly, "they aren't letting you go."
The image of my father breaking d
