Chapter 2: The Whispering Shadows
Excusing himself from a dull conversation with a senator, Julian sought the quiet of the estate's sprawling hallways. The music faded into a muffled thumping bass as he ventured toward the east wing. He passed a terrified-looking maid hurrying in the opposite direction, clutching a stack of soiled linens. When she saw him, she flinched, her eyes darting nervously toward the service corridors that led to the industrial kitchens and the old cellar.
"Maria," Julian stopped her, his voice low. "Where is Mary Jane?"
The maid trembled, her eyes welling with tears. "Señora Victoria said she is resting. Please, Mr. Vance, I must..." She scurried away before he could press further. Julian’s heart began to hammer against his ribs. The east wing wasn't where Mary Jane’s room was. The maid had come from the sub-basement kitchens. The knot in his stomach twisted into a jagged spike of pure dread. He broke into a brisk walk, loosening his bowtie, the velvet and gold of his world suddenly feeling like a trap.
