, the same watercolor prints of flowers, the same desk where she had drawn her first bu

ould make her visible, noticeable, acceptable. She also hung her own clothes nearby: three pairs of trousers, in navy, black

with a video call-Niamh Knox, her face already fi

ou have no idea wh

s Mayfair, all jumbled together. "You're in New York. You're doing th

he mattress too soft, t

rible? Is he-" Niamh's face shifted, something

ed K

loud enough that Keira had t

The one with the yellow c

er chest. The first real laugh s

s the family embarrassment. The reason we don't have reunions." Niamh's face f

bed," Keira said. "Down to the

mth of it, the loyalty. Niamh had been her roommate at the École des Beaux-Arts. She had seen Keira through the worst

Niamh finished. "We'll get drunk

opened without

aw and Annette's eyes and none of the polish either of them had learned to wear. He l

Her half-bro

" Keira said to Niam

aid. "Gossiping with your European

e toward him. She let the d

something

stand how this works. You're here for one reason-to marry Jered Knox and secure the Vau

they're not his to give. They'

ave the family. Especially not to someone who's about to become a Knox. You're an outsider

out shame. The logic of

inches. She used it, stopping close enough that

eventeen percent and my freedom. If I don't get what I want, I start looking at the rest of the Vaughn family trust. The stru

his face. Watched his Adam

threaten

Your inheritance is safe as long as mine is respected. Push me, and we'l

looked young suddenly, young an

," he said, but hi

ugh to rattle the watercolor prints. His footsteps

dy. Her heart was steady. She had expected worse from

iamh a text: Dinner tomorrow? I

ll burning, a constellation against the darkening sky. Somewhere in

need to fi