w, mechanical groan, their scrollwork casting long, crossed

urtleneck sweater, her hair neatly secured. Looking out the tinted glass at the passing rhododendron bushes, she felt a strange, co

the driveway, and cracked flagstones near the fountain t

ver hurried around to open her door, lifting a single gray vinyl suitcase

rought the exact suitcase she had carried down these steps seven years ago when her father had her personal

he top step, the hea

blazers. Her smile was tight, fixed, her eyes darting nervously toward the single suitcase on the gravel. Behind her,

oor mat. "We weren't able to turn the west wing over complet

h the doorway without breaking her stride. Her heels hit the black-and-white marb

tilated in years! It's filled with storage boxes, and besides, Ca

foyer and turning her head. "Under section four of the Halcyon residency clause, I occupy the suite of my c

htened, but she

ise's attention toward the narrow cor

. Her silver hair was pinned back in her usual neat braid, her linen

giving Elise a quiet, deliberate nod of recognition, a sign that she was sti

t, breaking through her cold composure for half a

small tilt of her head. "It's good to see that someone in

argaret said quietly, before

oed down the

s unbuttoned at the throat, his sleeves turned up twice over his forearms. His hair was slightly

his broad frame blocking the

aid, his deep voice carrying a rou

ticed the slight tension in his posture, the way his fingers hovered near his pocke

ing on the floor by her feet, his expression darken

oftly. "I've been waiting seven years.

on't get sentimental, Adrian.