The last cloud of dust settled on the road, marking the path where the army had marched. The sun rose up to the sky, increasing the warmth of the day.
Marissa stood at the open gate, her hand still raised in a silent wave, long after the black mare and its rider had vanished from sight.
The courtyard was empty now. The wagons were gone. The soldiers were gone. Even the stable boys had retreated to their quarters.
The silence felt heavy. It was a physical weight, a void left by the departure of the army and, more importantly, her husband.
A small, genuine smile lingered on her lips, a warm remnant of his shouted declaration. "I love you, Mari!"
She replayed the sound of his voice in her head. She held onto it like a shield against the coming cold.
She turned slowly. Her silk skirts rustled on the gravel. She walked back toward the grand entrance of the manor. The heavy oak doors stood open, a dark mouth leading into the belly of the estate.
She stepped across the threshold.
