Elena’s Pov
I woke up with my wrist still tingling from where he had grabbed it, and I promised myself I would keep my head down all day. The house schedule started at six, so I dragged myself out of bed and into the uniform before the sun even touched the windows.
Mrs Hale met me in the staff kitchen with coffee and a list longer than my arm. Dust the library shelves before eight, vacuum the west wing rugs by ten, polish the dining room table until it shines like glass, and then help Cook prep vegetables for lunch. I nodded and started moving because stopping meant thinking about last night, and I refused to do that.
Clara found me in the library halfway up a ladder with a feather duster in my hand. “Miss Elena, I can’t find my red crayon,” she whispered, tugging my apron. “Mr Fluff ne
