Chapter 131. Alone

Maggie POV

“Dismissed!” Marion says with finality.

The resulting disbursal of the crowd is almost hypnotizing, with everyone stepping off quickly in different directions—I assume to their assignments—without another word.

I hear the unmistakable, deep shrill of Camila’s voice calling for Belinda, who barely has time to whisper goodbye to me before hurrying off, dragging the rollable bin of dirty tin dishes with her.

And now, I find myself alone.

Though I’m glad to be free of Marion’s presence, I’d thought she’d be leading me to the General’s wife for my assignment. But she doesn’t return, and I wait for a few beats before I realize that I’m on my own in this immense house.

“I’ll try the parlor,” I whisper to myself, and my small voice echoes in the now