"Daddy, that woman said she's going to kill us!"
Finn dropped to his knees at once, pulling them close, murmuring comfort. When he finally looked up at me, his brows were knotted with fury.
"Narelle, are you done making a scene?"
"Since the moment you set foot in this manor, you've turned the whole household upside down. Take your daughter and get out of here!"
Hildegarde's forehead was split open. Blood ran down past her eye, tracing a thin red line along her cheek. Finn didn't spare her a single glance.
He only had arms for the two children in Edith's brood.
I clenched my jaw so hard my teeth ached, clutched my daughter tight, and charged toward the banquet hall, screaming at the top of my lungs:
"A doctor! Is there a doctor here?!"
Finn's head snapped up. He lunged to stop me.
"Narelle! Who do you think you are, making a scene in front of the imperial physician?! Don't you dare!"
He clamped a hand over my mouth. His servants grabbed for Hildegarde, trying to pry her from my arms and drag her away. She was already gasping between sobs, and now their hands smothered her mouth and nose. Her face went from red to a mottled purple.