The Henley house was still, the silence broken only by the steady tick-tock of the grandfather clock in the drawing room. Caroline stood before the clock's glass, tilting her head to admire the ruby necklace around her neck. She murmured, "How fortunate I am…"
Upon hearing footsteps, she turned swiftly, her face lighting up with an eagerness that bordered on desperation. "Ezekiel, you're finally home!" she exclaimed.
Ezekiel leaned forward to brush a superficial kiss against her cheek, his lips barely grazing her skin. "Caroline," he greeted smoothly, slipping off his coat and draping it neatly over a chair. "It's rather late. Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I couldn't sleep," Caroline replied, her tone wistful, a small pout forming on her lips. "You're always working… always away. I wanted to wait for you. Maybe we could have dinner together?"
Ezekiel's eyes flicked briefly to the untouched dining table before settling on her face, his smile practiced and faint. "Of course."
