Chapter 10 - The Song of the Estate
By midnight, the guests had all been dismissed, and the grand ballroom was bathed in the soft, quiet glow of a single brass lamp. Outside, the sirens of police cars echoed faintly in the distance as investigators searched the estate's north conservatory, finally bringing closure to a dark chapter that had plagued the Ashford family for a decade.
Inside the warm, private dining room, Iris sat wrapped in a thick, plush velvet robe. A massive silver tray filled with warm bread, roasted meats, and sweet pastries sat before her, and she ate with quiet, ravenous joy.
Alistair sat beside her, watching his daughter with a look of profound peace.
When she had finished, Iris wiped her mouth with a linen napkin and looked up at the high ceiling. "Is Mummy at peace now?"
Alistair reached over and took her small hand, squeezing it gently. "Yes, Iris. You brought her home. Your music set her free."
May you like
Hand in hand, father and daughter walked back into the quiet ballroom. Iris sat down on the piano bench once more, her clean fingers resting on the ivory keys. But this time, she didn't play the sad, haunting minor tune that had shattered Julian's lies.
Instead, under her father's watchful, loving eyes, she began to play a soft, bright melody—a song of warmth, of safety, and of a home restored.
