ena'

gainst mine, I had only one

ould have left me breathless. I would have blushed. I wou

at had happened tonight

nd for a divorce was nothing more than a performance? Tha

th. I should never have let my mothe

wered with brute force, pinning me against

oothing his reluctant wife. It might have been convincing if he were not holding my w

bric of my chemise. I could feel what this was doing to him. Eve

ed to part my lips

arl, blood beading on hi

l the strength I had. He stumbled back into the sh

or fle

Velvet rushed inside,

ht, his face dark as a thundercloud. Bl

e carried the full weight of the A

s together, my chest heaving, and met his gl

nto fists. He took

planted herself between us, her smal

shook, but she did not st

. But when her eyes met mine, something hardened

e hall, "if you continue, I will have no choice

ng in the air

and fell with each labored breath, his hands still clenched at

ncurled h

ow, controlled, each word a blade wrapped in silk.

or. As he passed Velvet, he shot her a look th

slammed b

hands still raised as if ready to shield me again. Velvet pressed herself

spoke. But they

the shattered vase on the floor. The scattered flowers l

But I knew with cold certai

would happen again. I coul

you?" she whispered. "When your father and brothers were alive, you never

ce held out for me, drawing it tight around my shoulders. M

m the locked drawer of m

nd I sank into it, watching as Grace unlocked the drawer and li

ven it to me the

d. "Promise me, Rowena. Promise me you will not

into her. All she wanted was for me to live quietly. Safely.

was not survival at all. It was something e

other's heart. Even if it mean

the phone. I dialed the num

ed up before

astonished, and more than a little exasperate

oment, drawing strength

said. "I ne