68

The morning after, the sun peeked through the curtain and woke Loretta.

She stretched, recalling last night.

All the crying had made her eyes swollen and painful.

The door opened with a creak, and an elderly woman entered.

"Good morning, dear," the woman said with a smile.

Loretta sat up and rubbed her eyes.

"I guess you're Loretta?" the woman asked, eyes glinting.

"The butler told me all about you."

Loretta's wariness was ignited. "Who are you?"

The woman chuckled. "I'm Mercy, dear. The housekeeper. or you can say, the nanny."

Loretta's confusion heightened. "Nanny?"

Mercy nodded. "Yes, I've taken care of Fabian since he was a boy.

Now, I help manage the household."

Loretta's gaze lingered on Mercy's gentle face.

Something was soothing about her presence.

"Fabian's not here, is he?" Loretta asked, well hoping to get a sense of her situation.

Merci shook her head. "Non, chère. He's busy avec his.business."

Loretta heard the evasion in Merci's tone.

But the warmth of the older woman se