Elsa’s POV
The summons came in the afternoon. I had just finished hauling buckets of water from the well, my arms trembling from exhaustion, when a young maid rushed toward me, her face pale.
“Elsa,” she whispered, glancing nervously over her shoulder. “Young lady Crystal’s calling for you.”
The bucket slipped in my grip, sloshing water over my feet. My stomach sank. Crystal never called unless it was to cause trouble.
“I don’t suppose she said why?” I asked, my voice flat.
The girl shook her head quickly. “No, but… you should hurry. You know how she gets if you keep her waiting.”
I did know. And though every bone in my body wanted to run in the opposite direction, I wiped my hands on my skirt, lifted my chin, and forced my legs to move toward the packhouse.
The halls were buzzing w
