ked shut behind her, the

art hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. She pressed her pa

e had to

erase every trace of herse

eliberate. The mirrored walls of the elevator showed a woman who looked like she had been

uests were already milling about. Avery kept her head down, hugging the w

sterile white light. Without a s

se," she said to the pharmaci

ly nodded and retrieved the small box. Avery paid in cash,

gle white pill from its plastic casing, and swallowed it with a gulp of icy

of war. There would be no part of him left insid

of peace sett

ank of payphones, relics from another era that were perfect for her pu

r, dropped a coin in the slot,

ing. How may I help you?" The v

a was ambitious, always looking

Hi, I was just leaving, and ... I think the guest in the presidential suite, Mr. Baxter

s calling?" Clara asked, a no

tizen," Avery said,

" on the hotel's most important guest. She would be the one to "discover" him. It would muddy the waters, create a t

like a baptism. It washed over her, clearing the last vestiges of pa

ndow, her mind was already r

n that had bound her to him, the legal and soc

the sprawling manor, the perfectly manicured lawns, sent a pang of longing th

ssional concern. Mrs. Davis, the head housekeeper, hovered in the doorway, her eyes wi

d towards her. Avery dropped to her knees and buried her face in his soft fur, t

t shower, scrubbing her skin until it was raw, trying to wa

nd Eleanor Harding, were in the breakfast nook, the morning paper spread be

u been? We were worried sick,"

calmly in her lap. She met her

and without a tremor. "I want to call

only sound in the room. Charles and Eleanor stared at her, then

oke," Charles said, hi

she replied, her

important families in this city," Eleanor pleaded softl

I've thought about it, and I am absolute

petulant girl who had been infatuated with Dominic Baxter since she was sixteen. This

en?" Charles asked,

ould sound like madness, and it would put them in danger. "No. I

. Her father studied her, his gaze intense, sear

on. He knew his daughter. When she made up her mind w

ll do this the right way. Formally. We will not

ters' regular Sunday dinner. And they would, as a fa

wave of relief w

first cut to sever the tie