The carriage came to a halt as the heavy wheels crunched over the smooth stone of the mansion's circular driveway. Drizzle was beginning to fall again. Sadie jumped out first with her usual boundless energy, followed by Kurt, who stretched his sore limbs.
However, the small, cloaked figure of Hope remained huddled in the corner of the seat as her hands gripped the seat until her knuckles were white.
"Hope? We're here. What's wrong?" Kurt asked, leaning on the carriage.
"It's probably just nerves, bossman," Sadie whispered.
"Really? Uhm… What are you so nervous about, Hope? You saw the garden. You saw the fountain. It's a nice place, don't you think?"
Hope looked up, her eyes wide and swimming with a fresh layer of anxiety.
"What if... what if the Lady doesn't like me?" she whispered. "What if she says I have to go to that place far away after all?"
Kurt opened his mouth to reassure her, but he didn't need to. The massive oak doors of the mansion swung open with a bang.
