laced under a soft house arrest. Her

de," Melinda hired Ms. Beaumont, one of N

tion-Eliana absorbed it all with the quiet in

Melinda, calling her the most gifted an

liana had finally accepted her fate

earning these skills to please anyone. S

rst into the room, waving

tation to Branson Hollo

gleaming. "Wonderful! Annabell, this

bell's attire, completely ignoring Eliana, w

on Ho

rough Eliana. The dange

c had held a knife to her t

move, B

she had learn

ds from that night

y, the real powe

finally fel

as Branson Holloway-the true power

began to for

this connection to find her own salvation? The banquet was her only chance to ge

Beaumont for advice on how to navigate large, formal events. Her comp

r the party, Annabell could

om Dior. A country girl like you could never

wn, her voice meek. "It

aning near the study, overheard her stepfathe

d..." "...once and for all...

Probably arrange for some man to assault her, to ruin her

d she had he

m, a glass of red wine in his hand, hi

so hard, Eliana. Ha

he wine wa

with a small, sharp movement, she "stumbled," letting the d

cried, her voice filled with panic. In the feigned conf