Chapter 5: An Unexpected Invitation
Sarah's plan to remain invisible failed spectacularly. Alexander noticed her absence. He missed the quiet grace with which she arranged the library and the distant sound of Veneta's laughter from the courtyards. One rainy Tuesday, an envelope sealed with the Sterling crest was left on Sarah's narrow bed. It was a formal invitation to dine with Mr. Sterling in the main dining room. Panic set in. She was a maid; crossing that boundary was unheard of and dangerous for both of them. When she knocked on the dining room door, she found Alexander not at the massive formal table, but seated at a small, cozy breakfast nook by the window, a warm fire crackling in the hearth. "Please, sit," he said, pulling out a chair. "No uniforms tonight, Sarah. Just two people sharing a meal." Over roasted chicken and quiet rain hitting the glass, the rigid walls of class division began to crumble, revealing two lonely souls seeking genuine connection.
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