---
She bowed to Elena first in the outer room and held out a sealed letter on a tray.
"This arrived just now," she said. "A Dawn servant brought it personally."
Elena's expression changed very slightly.
"From whom?"
"The man said it came from the head butler of the middle domain Dawn House. His name is Stephen."
That name settled heavily into the room.
Seraphiel looked up at once.
Elena took the letter from the tray and examined the seal.
Official. Clean. Real.
Not hidden.
Not local.
The handwriting on the outside was measured and exact in a way that only long service in old houses could produce.
Stephen. Head butler of the main Dawn House. Which meant whoever stood behind this letter had not come as rumor.
They had come as structure.
Elena's eyes cooled. "Where is the messenger?"
"In the front receiving hall, Lady Elena."
"Did he give a name?"
The maid nodded. "Kess."
Seraphiel's mouth moved faintly. "Ah."
Elena noticed that. "You know the name."
