Rachel and Emily stepped cautiously through the door, the stillness of the house unsettling. The air felt thick with the kind of silence that hinted at something being hidden. The maid appeared almost immediately, her head bowed respectfully, her face carefully neutral.
"Good afternoon, Miss Rachel, Miss Emily," she said, her voice soft.
Rachel wasted no time with pleasantries. Her eyes were sharp, scanning the room. "Where is everyone?" she asked curtly.
The maid clasped her hands in front of her apron, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Mr. John left with Miss Isabelle not long ago. I believe they were heading into town," she replied. "Miss Rebecca is upstairs. She hasn't come down for some time."