Chapter 7
Celeste did not want revenge.
That surprised Isolde.
Maybe disappointed her.
Guilt sometimes prefers punishment because punishment ends.
Celeste wanted something harder.
“Stop using maids as ears.”
Simple.
No secret listening.
No sleepless rotations.
No household staff recording guest weaknesses.
No black books.
I agreed.
Not because Celeste commanded my house.
Because she was right.
Isolde resisted one thing.
“The books.”
“What about them?”
“They contain information that could protect people.”
Celeste stared.
“Or control them.”
Both true.
Some entries included real threats.
Warnings.
People planning betrayal.
Information that had probably prevented conflict.
That did not justify how it was gathered.
I decided context by context.
Dangerous information reviewed.
Necessary warnings preserved.
Gossip destroyed.
Private shame not relevant to safety destroyed.
No more archive as leverage.
Rafe hated the work.
Good.
Administration is the punishment for inherited systems.
Then I asked Celeste:
“What do you want for yourself?”
She looked surprised.
“Nothing from Lennox.”
Fair.
“From us?”
“Sleep.”
That answer silenced everyone.
We arranged a hotel room.
No bell.
No obligations.
Then she added:
“And my sister out of service.”
I looked at Aveline.
Her choice.
Aveline shook her head.
“I’m leaving service. Not because you say.”
Good.
She wanted culinary school.
Apparently she had wanted it for three years.
The family had simply been using her wages to support herself while searching for Celeste.
I paid what she was owed.
Not charity.
Back wages and compensation for the two nights.
She accepted after argument.
May you like
Good.
Dignity rarely arrives quietly.
