Queen removing the Bishop

The carriage rolled to a gentle stop in front of the Belmont residence, the soft rumble of the wheels fading into the quiet of the afternoon. The horses snorted, their breaths misting in the cool air as Caroline and Ezekiel stepped down.

Caroline smiled brightly. The weight of her arm hooked through Ezekiel's felt like a prize, as though she had captured something rare and precious.

"Hello, Caroline!" Mrs. Finch, the Belmonts' neighbour, waved from her garden across the street.

Caroline's smile widened, her chest swelling with pride. "That's Mrs. Henley now, Mrs. Finch," she corrected, casting a smug glance at her husband.

"My apologies, Mrs. Henley!" Mrs. Finch chuckled. "I thought you two would be off on your honeymoon! What brings you back so soon?"