She clasped her hands over her mouth in shock as she took in the plush living room. It was already furnished with more elaborate furniture and belongings than she had lived in since leaving Waisley as a child.

“Oh, Mistress, you made it,” Benton said, fluffing a pillow. “We have already unpacked your belongings and hope that you find the room adequate. It still needs some cleaning, but so far, we approve.”

“It’s wonderful.”

Benton gestured to the back hall. “This is the formal bedroom that connects to a bathing chamber. There is a formal study as well as two additional bedchambers. If you permit, we will share the smaller of the two rooms. So, your guests will still have space to enjoy your company. Unless you would prefer to find us a place elsewhere. In which case, we entirely understand.”

“Shh,” Kerrigan said, giddy with laughter. “Take both rooms.”

Benton blinked at her in confusion. “But, Mistress…”

“Kerrigan,” she repeated. “Just Kerrigan. You have lived long enough in shadow. I want you to each have a room. If I have guests, they can sleep on the couch or the floor for all I care.”

“That is most generous,” Bayton said. “Too generous.”

“It’s the least of what you deserve.” Kerrigan very well could have been them if she had been born a thousand years earlier. Things weren’t that much better now, but it wasn’t slavery. It wasn’t what the twins had endured at the hands of tyrants. She wouldn’t subject them to that ever again. “They’re yours. Do with them as you will.”

“Yes, Miss… Kerrigan,” Benton said, stumbling over her name. “Also, this was delivered for you.”

She held out a plain envelope, but Kerrigan recognized the calligraphic writing as Fordham’s. She took it out of Benton’s hand and stepped into her new living quarters, tearing the envelope and retrieving the letter from within.