It was a new day at the grand Carson family mansion. The morning sun streamed into the breakfast room, a cheerful, airy space filled with flowers and the scent of freshly baked bread. Duchess Lyra sat at the head of the table, taking a slow, contemplative sip of her morning cinnamon tea. Across from her, the Dowager Duchess, her mother-in-law, took a delicate bite of a warm scone with clotted cream and jam.
Amber came into the room with a bright smile, followed by a maid who carried a large silver tray holding three small, ornate dishes of freshly chopped mixed fruits containing strawberries, grapes, and melon.
"You can just drop it on the table, Elara. I'll take it from here," Amber said kindly to the maid. "Thank you."
The maid did as she was told, curtsied, and left the room. Amber, humming a cheerful tune, took a plate of fruit from the tray. "Grandma," she said, her smile warm as she placed the dish in front of the Dowager Duchess.