Lawyer Sterling: What are your plans for the estate now, Miss Vance? The house requires a significant staff to maintain.
Clara: The first thing we are going to do is fire every servant Genevieve brought in to spy on the staff.
Guardsman Thomas: That's about half the staff, Miss Clara. They were paid bonuses to report on your daily routine.
Clara: Pay them two weeks' severance and tell them to leave the grounds by five o'clock today.
Lawyer Sterling: And the rest of the staff?
Clara: The original workers who stayed loyal to my father will have their salaries doubled, effective immediately.
Thomas smiled broadly, setting the tea tray down on the desk.
Guardsman Thomas: The kitchen crew will be thrilled to hear that, Miss Clara. They've been working for half-wages for two years.
Clara: And Thomas... I want you to take over as Chief of Estate Security.
Guardsman Thomas: Chief? Miss Clara, I'm just a courtyard guard...
Clara: You stepped between me and a whip today, Thomas. You're the only person on this property I trust with my life.
Thomas stood up straight, his chest swelling with pride as he gave a firm nod.
Guardsman Thomas: I won't let you down, Chief Vance. I'll hire a proper security team by tomorrow morning.
The heavy front door of the castle chimed down in the main foyer as Dr. Evans arrived carrying his black medical bag.
Lawyer Sterling: I'll go down and bring Dr. Evans up to the study. We can finalize the trust transfer paperwork after he cleans your wounds.
Clara: Thank you, Sterling. Please make sure the media gets a full statement about Genevieve's arrest before the evening news.
Lawyer Sterling: The press releases are already drafted, Clara. By tonight, every newspaper in the state will know the truth about Lord Richard's estate.
As Lawyer Sterling walked out of the room, Clara walked over to the grand arched window overlooking the snowy courtyard.
Below, the horses were being led back into the warm stables, and the snow was quietly falling over the stone fountain where she had lay bleeding just an hour before.
She held the silver ring tightly in her hand, pressing it against her heart as a feeling of deep peace finally filled her soul.
Clara: We did it, Dad. The home is ours again.