iced the sente

ay off? but standing in the sun-d

er newspaper. "You've been hovering outsid

a'am," Iv

over the page.

rnoon off. For family.

a deliberate clink. "If you want favors, you answer questions first. Where are you from? Your parent

e," Ivy said, holding her g

on my steps

he only one

g on Ivy's hip - decided he'd had enough. He went red

fened. "Perhap

low wavering note she knew by heart. "I know. It hurts, doesn't it? I've got

gone. For a second she was jus

r me." She reached for her tea, her hand not quite steady. "You may

p on her shoulder, and didn't see Cordel

all of them with her forehead against the glass, cl

tea, just like she remembered. Only her mother didn't. Mrs. Sinclair was

d, pulling her into a hug before a deep, rattling cough

fruit bowl - FINAL NOTICE in red - and wi

. Where did you get this much?

give, Mama. T

, too tight-and softened. "You've got that look. The one you had when you were

kly, and looked down at her tea so

er smile trusting and unbearable. "Whatever it is,

Ivy thought, " I don't know how much time you have,"

oom of the Vanderbilt estate, Vanessa Hart

lexander said from the

lding him

like a package that might ring. He was a warm, wriggling, unreasonably solid weight, and e

er father's lawyers, the most exacting women in society. She h

Not with fear, or confusion. Wit

and then, Don't be stupid. He's

ers. He was watching her, very still, with those cool gray eyes. "

rse. I'd

he chaise, arranged Milo on

scre

s face crumpled and went crimson, and he flailed, and somewhere in the flailin

darlin

pu

soft snap.

ss parted like thread, and the bodice slid forward. She g

u li

stop them, hot and furious and not

fr

had risen f

ace. His expression was perfectly calm, and perfectly col

e thought.

d, a high, bright, brittle sound. "H

did not s

u are Milo's own mother. And yet the nann

in the drawing

a moment, the mask slipped. Fury, naked and brigh

eek. The wedding, the planning, the pressure. I'm exhausted, Alexander, and he's teething, and I" S

" Alexan

no answer

robably had been. The old woman crossed the room without a word, took the screaming baby

" Mrs. Hale said calmly.

ilence she left

mmering in her ears. She summoned a brittle, per

ange," she sai

with her head high. She walked up the stairs, past a maid who ducked her eyes, and

at

t yet explain, it was all that girl's fault. The calm baby. The

e out of her bag a

ang t

s voice, cautious and

d have curdled milk. "I'm afraid your little holiday

Vanderbilt

you." A pause, soft and deadly. "Paid wo