Chapter 16. The Secret

Astrid

I pushed the door open and strode into my room with a heart filled with joy. It’d been so long since I felt so fulfilled and truly free.

Never mind the exhaustion I could practically feel in my bones, and the fact that the maid dress I had on had some spattering of horse muck and other things I couldn’t immediately name.

I was happy. It was just a stroke of bad luck that it had to end.

I breathed a sigh as I moved towards the bed the paused when I remembered the state of my dress. The sound of a knock snapped me out of the lethargy and immediately sent me into a state of panic.

I quickly pulled off the boots I had on and threw them under the bed, before rushing towards the vanity mirror to inspect my hair. The knock came again, this time louder and more insistent.

“Wh... who’s that??” I asked, trying to keep the strain off my voice as I reached behind and untied the small apron and sent it flying towards the other end of the bed.