Phantom Fortune Chapter 13 - Since Painted or Not Painted All Things Shall Fade'

In which the return from a seaside sojourn fails to lift Lesbia's spirits, and the undercurrents of love and duty weave quietly beneath the surface of Fellside life, as Mary observes the tender complexities around her. Meanwhile, the arrival of an old friend, Lady Kirkbank, brings a breath of the wider world into their secluded haven, promising change and stirring reflections on youth, society, and the relentless passage of time.