The dinner was the same fancy nonsense as before, and the mansion was quiet. Occasionally there was the sound of servants moving, cleaning and tidying up, doing their best to mind their own business and not even look at another.

For all of the warnings given to him about closed doors, there were surprisingly very few of them. Many open ones were brags about her wealth, useless trinkets made to show off, treasures only bought to be shown off. But there were no portraits of the mistress, all clothing of hers hidden away.

The office was dusty, although there had a been a few efforts to clean it up now and again. It was hollow, dimly lit - not a personal place the mistress visited even when she was normal. The last person assigned to her finances had kept the paperwork in order, at least - but whoever it was had clearly left a long time ago.