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Leila had dropped her bag moments earlier and told her with a kind smile, “Welcome back, Lady Juliet. I hope you enjoy your stay.”

Juliet couldn’t help but wonder if she was truly welcome here.

After soaking for a few minutes, the bath did ease some of her nerves, and she sighed in contentment. At the convent, something as basic as a warm bath had been an unreachable luxury.

Whoever had run the bath had added some scented oil and rose petals to the water. Juliet took a deep breath, letting the pleasant aroma drive away whatever discomfort still lingered in her mind.

It wasn’t long until she leaned back, closed her eyes, and let the warmth envelop her completely.

The longer she stayed there, the more the memories of her time at the convent flooded her mind. The poor conditions and the endless duties had taken a toll on her body and spirit. She had grown used to the constant struggle, the meager portions of food, and the lack of comfort.

Although she had been reluctant to leave the others behind, she harbored a tiny twinkle of hope that she had left that life of struggle behind for good.

Once the water cooled, she knew it was time to get out, take some rest, and then prepare herself for her meeting with the family.

She reluctantly got out of the bath and quickly dried off before slipping into a nightgown that had been left for her by Leila.

Exhausted from the journey and the awkward meeting with her father and his wife, the soft, cozy bed was quite appealing, and she did not think twice before slipping beneath its covers.

It had been a long time since she had felt this comfortable, and it didn’t take long for her eyes to slip shut.

“I’ll just close my eyes for a second,” she mumbled.

With a final sigh, Juliet succumbed to the embrace of sleep, hoping the next day would bring clarity and peace.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” Lady Campton said sarcastically as Juliet entered the dining room.

Juliet offered a polite smile. “I apologize. I was quite exhausted from the trip and slept longer than I intended. Perhaps someone should have woken me up.”

Lord Campton quickly stood and pulled out a chair for her. “It matters not, Juliet. Please, join us.”

Juliet sat, feeling her father’s and stepmother’s eyes upon her.

With its elegant decor and lavish spread, the dining room felt worlds apart from the simplicity she was used to. She felt like a misplaced oddity amid the splendor.

For some reason, she was tiptoeing along the line of irritation and was annoyed about the weak attempts at normalcy. While her father seemed perfectly content to ignore broaching the topic of her prolonged absence, she could never forget how he had abandoned her all those years ago, and she doubted anything he could say or do would relieve how she felt.

She took a deep breath and willed herself to remain calm. However, as they began to eat, Lord Campton peppered her with questions.

“How was the journey? I trust it was not too burdensome?” he began in an overly cheerful tone.

“It was tolerable,” Juliet replied as she filled her mouth with food.

“And the Abbey? How were the conditions there? Did you find it…comfortable?” Algernon pressed, clearly not deterred by Juliet’s nonchalant response.

“It was cold, damp, and everything other than comfortable,” She shrugged, resisting the urge to snap at her father.

Surely, he had heard all about what had taken place at St. Catherine’s. There was no one who hadn’t. And yet, rather than asking about her well-being more empathetically, he was questioning her as though he was merely inquiring out of necessity.

Algernon nodded, though his eyes betrayed his discomfort. Dinah remained silent, her eyes flicking between her husband and stepdaughter.

“And the Mother Super…”

Juliet set her cutlery down with a loud clink. “Father, why have you taken me from the convent? There must be a reason beyond mere concern for my comfort.”

Lord Campton stammered as his facade began to crack. “Well, as the conditions there were quite poor, we felt it was best for you to return back home where you belong.”

Juliet’s eyes narrowed, seeing through his poorly disguised explanation. “Where I belong? Why did you suddenly decide that my well-being mattered after abandoning me for all those years?”