Hettie’s convalescence was slow. Every morning, she had breakfast with Berkeley—she was having a hard time thinking of him as “Pappy”—and then she’d take a walk with him around the garden before he left her to work for the day, locked away in his study or otherwise out of the house.
Ophelia hovered whenever she was in her room, and Hettie became hyperaware of the woman’s presence. Sometimes the maid would prompt her about certain memories, asking if she recalled anything about her past life or her family. She didn’t. It grated until Hettie found herself avoiding the maid whenever she could. Perhaps she was worried about her position. If Hettie didn’t remember her old life, would Ophelia lose her job? She couldn’t imagine why.
In the afternoons, Hettie explored the mansion. There were fou
