the speed of a man who'd encounte

whispered speculation of the maids. Emilie watched them go, her posture relaxed, her m

d her, changed somehow-stronger, more ce

allway chandelier, and something in her bearing had shifted. The

"I've let them treat me like a fool. Like a weak woman who couldn't protect her own child." She laughed

, the brightness of the eyes, the way her hands had

she said

at required no physical contact. The dining room glowed at the end of the ha

eady claimed

ginnings. Her makeup was subtle-just enough to suggest she'd been crying, not enough

t, carefully controlled. "I hope yo

e cut through the performance li

e, confusion creasing his foreh

able, leaving the head for Burnett. "We'll discuss

sat without adjusting her posture, her plain clothes a deliberate contrast to the fo

tique, probably worth more than the car that had brought h

ence st

n back. The girl was waiting for something-an op

he dress I sent. Was it-the wrong size? Or perhaps-" A delicate pause. "-the st

his mouth. "Emilie. Your sister

s loud in the quiet room. She reached for her napkin, wiped her mouth with

she said, "because I

e went whit

orward, her voice dropping to conversational intimacy. "You wore that dress to the Met Gala after-p

wine glass, swirled the ca

d your presence at this table inappropriate. Just as I find yo

ass sh

spread across the white tablecloth like blood, dripping onto the white silk

erged strangled. "

ply reached out and placed her knife-carefully, precisely-into the wooden t

are a placeholder. A clerical error. A woman who stole my

like thunder. "That's enough! Apol

ute certainty-made him fall silent. "She's the daughter of a woman who committed kidnapping. Who

ettie's side, placing a ha

ut not your jaw. Ask her why Grandmother Kristyn favors her so-" Emilie's voice dropped to

t. He looked at Corie-really looked at her-and fo

erged rough. "Is ther

ng mascara across her cheeks. "I don't know what she's talking

cut through

mbled for it with hands that shook, glanced at the s

ld," he

from the speaker was aged but absolu

midnight tomorrow." A pause, weighted with implications Burnett clearly understood.

ne clic

too heavy to hold. When he spoke, his voice w

they want-" He looked at Emilie, then at Corie, and the despair in his eyes wa