and gold. The chandelier overhead cast

tt sat at the head. To his left sat Denese,

the Siberia of t

then turned her gaze to Florence, her smile vanishing. "Florence, y

said, cutting a piece of asp

phone under the table. "Though that dress doesn'

m," Floren

n against his wine glass. The shar

tt said. He looked handsome, co

ed behind Florence's chair. He placed his hands

nternally, but she

Garnett announced. "We

lite sound. "Finally. The trust can st

. They were cold, predatory. "Congratulations, Florence.

Incub

he didn't drink. She just held it, fe

dislodging Garnett's ha

" she said. Her voice carried across

e tightens. "Y

py voice called out from

a small, shrunken figure wrapped in sha

alked to her. She knelt

er skin was like papyrus, dry

a," Florence

ith tears. "A Livingst

Livingston. That was all that mat

Sharp, not Livingston, would

n a delicate condition, I think she should move b

d. Monitor. That

d quickly. "The city apartment is too isolated

ing. They wanted her under their roof, where they

ed suspicious. If she refuse

se, then at Blosso

the smile of a wo

id. "It's so important for the