<p><strong>Chapter 1: The Unexpected Bequest</strong></p><p>The envelope was thick, sealed with crimson wax and the crest of a raven holding a key in its beak—definitely not the kind of thing Nana ever sent through the post. Eliza Finch turned it over in her hands, frowning at the ornate calligraphy that spelled out her name. No return address, no postmark, just her name written in flowing script that reminded her of the antique documents she sometimes referenced for her architectural restoration projects.</p><p>Rain tapped against the windows of her small apartment, the gray afternoon light barely illuminating the stack of unpaid bills on her kitchen counter. Three months behind on rent, six rejections from design firms in the last month alone, and now this mysterious letter appearing in her mailbox less than a week after burying her grandmother.</p><p>Eliza slid her finger under the seal, careful not to damage the wax impression. Inside was heavy parchment, yellowed at the edges and smelling faintly of roses and something else—something older, like dust and forgotten places.</p><p>Dear Eliza
