Lily pointed to the smaller figure.
"Me."
Daniel looked again.
There was no father in the picture.
He gently placed it back on the desk.
"Would you like to show me the garden?"
Lily nodded enthusiastically.
She took his hand.
And together they left the bedroom.
***
Downstairs, Marcus was waiting in the sitting room.
Eleanor stood near the fireplace.
She had not moved since Daniel left.
When he entered with Lily, her expression changed.
"Lily, come here."
The child immediately stopped walking.
Her hand tightened around her father's.
Daniel noticed.
He looked at his mother.
"She is staying with me."
Eleanor frowned.
"I only wanted to speak to her."
"You can speak to her later."
Lily looked between them.
She did not understand why the atmosphere had become so tense.
Daniel knelt beside her.
"Sweetheart, would you like to spend some time in the garden with Mrs. Bennett?"
Lily nodded.
"Can Daddy come too?"
"Of course."
Daniel turned toward the housekeeper.
"Would you mind taking us outside?"
Mrs. Bennett smiled.
"Not at all, sir."
As they walked away, Lily glanced back.
Eleanor was watching her.
The little girl quickly looked forward again.
Daniel saw it.
He also saw his mother's expression.
And he knew the conversation was far from over.
***
The garden was quiet.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the branches of the old oak tree.
Lily ran toward the flowerbeds, pointing out the places where her mother used to plant roses.
"These were Mummy's favorite."
Daniel smiled sadly.
"Yes, they were."
"She said flowers need talking to."
"She did?"
Lily nodded.
"She used to talk to them every morning."
Daniel looked toward the rose bushes.
He remembered Claire doing exactly that.
He remembered laughing at her for speaking to plants.
She had told him that people who talked to flowers were generally happier than people who didn't.
He had forgotten.
Lily crouched beside a small pink rose.
"Can I pick one?"
Daniel hesitated.
Then he smiled.
"Let's leave it growing. We can look at it tomorrow."
The girl nodded.
They continued walking.
After a while, Lily sat on a wooden bench.
Daniel sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, can I ask you something?"
She nodded.
"Do you feel happy at home?"
Lily looked at her shoes.
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes?"
She hesitated.
"When Grandma is happy."
Daniel's face tightened.
"What happens when she isn't happy?"
Lily shrugged.
"I try to be quiet."
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't like noise."
"Does she shout at you?"
"Sometimes."
"Does she ever make you feel scared?"
Lily did not answer.
Daniel turned toward her.
"You can tell me anything. I won't be angry."
The girl looked at him.
"Will Grandma be angry?"
Daniel paused.
"No. I'm asking because I want to understand."
Lily rubbed her hands together.
"Sometimes I forget things."
"What things?"
"Where I put my pencils. Or I make a mess. Or I ask too many questions."
Daniel listened.
"And what happens?"
"Grandma says I need to learn."
"Learn what?"
"To be better."
Daniel felt a painful lump in his throat.
"You are already a good girl."
Lily looked uncertain.
"Really?"
"Really."
"But Grandma says I need to behave properly."
"Everyone should try to behave properly, sweetheart. But that doesn't mean you have to be perfect."
Lily considered this.
"Can I make mistakes?"
Daniel smiled sadly.
"Of course."
"Even big mistakes?"
"Even big mistakes."
The child looked toward the house.
"Will you still love me?"
Daniel pulled her into his arms.
"Nothing you do will ever make me stop loving you."
Lily rested her head against him.
For the first time in months, she allowed herself to believe those words.
***
Inside the mansion, Eleanor was pacing.
She had called Daniel three times.
He had not answered.
She was furious with Marcus, with the recordings, and with the sudden loss of authority over her own household.
But beneath the anger was something else.
Fear.
She knew that Daniel had seen the footage.
She knew that he had watched her behavior.
And she understood that the security manager had become a witness to something she had always considered private.
Mrs. Bennett entered the sitting room.
"Madam, would you like some tea?"
"No."
The housekeeper hesitated.
"Is there anything else I can do?"
Eleanor turned.
"Yes. Tell me exactly what you've been saying to Daniel."
Mrs. Bennett looked surprised.
"I haven't spoken to him about anything."
"Don't lie to me."
"I'm not lying, madam."
"Have you been telling him that I mistreat Lily?"
Mrs. Bennett remained silent.
Eleanor stepped closer.
"I want an answer."
"I have only tried to comfort the child."
"By filling her head with nonsense?"
"She misses her mother."
"That is not your concern."
Mrs. Bennett looked directly at her.
"With respect, madam, it is my concern when a child is crying."
Eleanor stared.
She had never expected the housekeeper to speak to her that way.
"Remember who employs you."
Mrs. Bennett lowered her head.
"I remember."
"Then remember your place."
The housekeeper turned to leave.
Before she reached the door, Eleanor spoke again.
"Mrs. Bennett."
"Yes, madam?"
"Did you know about the recordings?"
"No."
"Did you tell Marcus anything?"
"No, madam."
Eleanor studied her.
Then she waved her away.
Mrs. Bennett left without another word.
For the first time, Eleanor felt surrounded by people who no longer seemed afraid to disagree with her.