The Princess and the Pauper (Arabella) novel Chapter 1464

"I'm heading out. Thanks for the kind hospitality tonight. It's chilly outside, you guys should head in."

"Ah, sure, sure."

They watched him leave before slowly heading back into the house.

An hour later.

After her bath, Arabella was catching up with Romeo on WhatsApp when she was startled by a rapid knocking on her door.

"Miss. Collins, are you asleep? Mrs. Griffith needs you."

Opening the door, Arabella was met with a hushed voice, "She looks a bit under the weather, seems like it's got something to do with the fright Serena had."

Serena??

"What happened to her?"

"They say Serena came bolting out of the basement so scared she lost a shoe, pale as a ghost. I don't know the details, just bits and pieces from the other staff."

Arabella knew the basement held some unsavory characters; surely one of the grisly sights down there had spooked Serena. She followed the servant's lead to the study.

Inside the study.

Eunice sat with an austere expression, gazing down at the figure huddled in the corner.

Serena was curled up, shaking uncontrollably.