The storm had moved in quickly, as they so often did. Marie had lived her entire life in the shadow of these storms and still she often underestimated them. The dark clouds had loomed in the distance and the wind had picked up, and still she had thought there would be more time. It was only when the shutters had started to slam against the windows and the trees bent with the force of the wind that she ushered Lizzie out the door, telling the young girl that she was to hurry home to her family in the village and not to even think about returning until the weather cleared.

Despite living in Ravencroft for six months now, it still took her more time than she'd have liked to move through the large manor, closing up the shutters and fastening them tight. The top floors were closed up first, then the back rooms, and finally the front. It was as she heading to take care of the last windows in the library that she heard the unexpected knocking at the door. She stared at the door for a long moment before hurrying forward, picking up the skirts of her dress with gloved hands so she could move quicker.

The door opened in time to catch that flash of lightning that left her flinching. There was a man there, clearly soaked through by the storm, and she could hear a horse somewhere out in the rain. She didn't hesitate to point to the right of the manor, stepping out onto the covered porch that was still being drenched, and instructing the stranger, "There's a stable at the side of the house, take your horse there and come inside."