Miles away from London, in the countryside, the Kingsley estate was about to face its own terrible, sudden reckoning. The dark clouds of ruin had finally arrived at their doorstep.
Aunt Eunice was pacing furiously in the center of the grand foyer.
The large, open space was usually kept perfectly neat, but today it was a scene of frantic, absolute chaos. Two massive, heavy wooden traveling trunks sat open on the polished marble floor.
Eunice was not packing for a pleasant holiday. She was shouting loud, sharp orders at two terrified young maids, commanding them to pack her trunks as fast as possible.
"Hurry up, you useless, slow girls!" Eunice snapped angrily. Her face was flushed, and her hair was already slightly messy from her frantic pacing.
She walked over to one of the kneeling maids. She raised her hand and slapped the girl sharply on the shoulder.
