The Call of the Blood

In a fog‑shrouded London of November, Hermione Lester waits by a crackling fire, surrounded by towering stacks of well‑worn books and the soft presence of her St. Bernard. At thirty‑four she is plain‑faced and sturdy, yet her keen brown eyes reveal a restless intellect and a warmth that draws people in despite her unremarkable looks. As she sifts through a bundle of letters, her emotions flicker from amusement to solemnity, hinting at a life lived with both curiosity and compassion.

The quiet is broken when Emile Artois, the Parisian writer whose correspondence she has just been reading, finally arrives, escorted by his discreet attendant Selim. Their entrance carries a mix of urgency and mystery, and even the loyal dog lifts its head in quiet attention. With a promise of secrets to be shared and shadows hinted at, Hermione’s world is poised on the brink of a compelling encounter that will test the boundaries of heart, duty, and the allure of distant horizons.