Hope sat and listened to Ayala's story in silence. The poor girl was overwhelmed by events and the idea of being a queen dreaded her more than anything else. Hope had always perceived her as shy, but this shyness was actually the effect of the fear of losing what she had.
Ayala believed she had done nothing extraordinary and so deserved none of what she had. Even her job as a maid at Springwood Castle seemed like an unearned favor. All she had to do to acquire the job as a housekeeper and receive food and a warm bed was to be at the right place at the right time, with the fitting bruise on her cheek.
