Chapter 7: Cold Broth and Bitter Medicines
By late afternoon, the oppressive atmosphere inside the Vance estate felt like a physical weight settling over the wood-paneled walls. Julian had not left the house; instead, he had established a temporary command center in the formal dining room, the very place where the silver spoon had clattered against the porcelain plate days earlier. Every movement I made through the service corridors was shadowed by the awareness that my professional standing was being methodically dismantled piece by piece.
The kitchen door swung open silently as I lifted a heavy silver tray carrying a bowl of thin vegetable broth and Arthur's evening prescription. The head housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, stood by the copper sink, her eyes averted toward the floor, refusing to meet my gaze.
"The agency called down from Albany about an hour ago," Mrs. Gable said quietly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the old refrigerator. "Mr. Vance spoke with the regional director. They're sending a supervisor tomorrow morning to review your daily logs."
I paused, the tray trembling slightly in my hands. "On what grounds, Mrs. Gable? My patient care records are completely up to date."
"On the grounds of unauthorized visitors and medical overreach," she replied, finally looking up, her face etched with a weary, defeated sorrow. "He owns half the county boards, nurse. You can't fight a man like that with a clipboard and a clean conscience. He'll crush you before you even reach the main road."
"He hasn't crushed us yet," I said, turning away from her and carrying the tray down the dark hallway toward Arthur's bedroom.
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Inside the quiet room, Arthur was sitting propped up by embroidered pillows, staring out at the gray autumn mist clinging to the courtyard garden. When I set the tray on the bedside table, he didn't touch the spoon. He simply reached out and caught my wrist with a surprising, dry strength, his fingers wrapping around my arm like cold parchment.
"They're coming for you tomorrow," Arthur whispered, his voice raspy and thin. "Julian already told me. He thinks replacing you will break my resolve. We have to get those ledgers out of the house tonight."
