At Adrian Hawthorne’s crowded engagement dinner, the housemaid Nell noticed him reaching for the small service bell used to announce dessert.
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Chapter 12 / 17
Chapter 12
The service bell stayed on the dining table.
For weeks, Clara avoided it.
Then one afternoon she saw a waiter use it during tea.
She froze.
I noticed.
The waiter didn’t.
Good.
I sat beside her.
“Want it gone?”
She shook her head.
Then:
“Can I ring?”
I handed it over.
She pressed once.
Tiny chime.
No one came for her.
Again.
Louder.
Still nothing.
She smiled.
Third time, kitchen staff appeared with cookies because apparently my house cannot resist symbolism.
Clara laughed.
The sound mattered.
Same bell.
Different consequence.
Later she used it to annoy Rafe.
May you like
Excellent.
Objects should become boring again.
