"Isabella." Mariella's voice was soft, tinged with a desperate earnestness that made me look up despite myself. "I know words seem hollow after everything I've done—or failed to do—but I am truly sorry."
I studied her face, searching for insincerity and finding none. The silence between us felt less hostile now, though no less heavy.
"I can't imagine what you endured under Reginald's care," she continued, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. "He could be... demanding even during our marriage. I should have known he would become worse after I left."
"Yes," I agreed simply. "You should have."
She nodded, accepting my bluntness. "I've heard stories about the Thornes over the years—about their strictness, their unforgiving nature. I remember meeting Lysander and Lady Rowena at social functions... they always seemed so formidable."
The corner of my mouth quirked up involuntarily. "And yet, compared to my father, Alaric's family has been welcoming."
