The tension in the compound was palpable, the aftermath of the attack on Julie and Anna casting a shadow over everything. The storm outside continued to lash at the windows, a restless echo of the unease inside. The infirmary bustled with quiet urgency as Mrs. Rodriguez worked alongside Magda, preparing salves and tinctures while Anna lay on one of the beds, her torn clothes replaced with a clean gown.
“She’ll heal,” Magda murmured, her hands steady as she applied a poultice to Anna’s wounds. “The wards protected her from the worst of it.”
Mrs. Rodriguez handed her a vial of antiseptic, her expression calm but her movements precise. “And Julie?”
“Physically, she’s fine,” Magda said, glancing at the young housemaid, who sat huddled in a corner with a blanket around her shoulders. “But sh
