Despite her resolve to face her new family with her head held high, Ava found herself sighing in relief at the sight of the empty table when she stepped into the dining room the next morning. The prospect of facing her new relatives was thoroughly disconcerting, even more so when she knew they were not entirely pleased to welcome her.
A male servant seated her next to the big chair at the head of the long table, which seemingly belonged to her husband. As she waited for the food to be served, she glanced nervously over her shoulder at the door, half expecting somebody would appear there.
She was beginning to regret her decision to go downstairs. Polly had offered to send her breakfast to her chamber, but she declined. She decided to face her new family instead of avoiding them. She was m
