sure enough, it was the right property. Or rather estate, because stretching before my eyes

d on the button. A buzzing sound came th

y throat. “I… I’m her

t with him?” He was harsh

o,

ment, no Mr

please. I mean he sent me an email asking that I come to see hi

d then, “Y

onovan,” I

,” he said, and then

hing to do while I waited. But really, I was so worried

buzz came again. “Come in. Just f

did that little hop to pull my backpack up my s

city below. The buildings sparkled like jewels under the evening sunlight. For a moment I was lost.

mmer in a car accident. If only Aunt Miley hadn’t hated us so much, and if only

fantasy world and turned on my

s hi

the house. No. It wasn’t a house. It was a mansion, built of white stone and three stories high. It

amazing structure. What I felt today, however, was pure terror, for the sight of that buil

ead. I took a deep breath and told myself it was too late to run

g white dog sprinting toward me, growling and barking aggressively. Panic seized me, and I staggered back. The moment I knew that beast

never before. I headed straight for the woo

splash of brown water against my face. Some got into my mouth, tasting like dirt and salt. Spitting the unsavory substance back out, I blinked, wondering what had just happene

y voice shouted

g with exertion as she looked at me with interest. Then she gave me the loveliest smile I’d ever seen. I felt like someone had j

an-blu

gorgeous man ba

of my lovely smiles as well, despite my fear of the

small hands on her hips. “Stop it, Sammy! You’re

ng its master it was sorry. It didn’t take the girl long to stop being mad with her b

. Then she turned to me. “You

d. “Yes

that excited about new peopl

ci

The dog looked like it wanted to chase me down

s your

ully brushing off the wet, dirty

eyeing her. “

grin. “And this is Sammy. There’s Alfi

d how the heck I was going to get myself cleaned up b

shen up?” I asked, giving her a lovely gr

ed. “Fol

I was a stranger, and requesting a little girl to aid me without her pa

ut w

aid. “I’m a stranger.

ound myself remembering the other Prussian-blue eyes, the ones that belonged to the g

I realized she w

down, she said, “You don’

and thoug

’re not strangers. I know your name. Your name is Mia. And you know my name.

iful child was very smar

little smelly,” she said,

d was adorable and very kind. I

aight, and she had a stern, no-nonsense expression on her face that scared me. The other one was a beauty, with long brunette hair, warm tan skin, hazel eyes, and, well, a not-so-lovely expression on her face. She

m to intimidate little Aria at al

in the black suit. “She’s my new

replied with a bow of her head. “Whi

this for a moment

the necessities right away,” Ms. L

pretty one. “Soph

Aria,” Sophie said,

saw Sophie was about to protest Aria holding my dirty hand. But s

into the grand foyer. Sammy and I

wing her eyes at me. A sense of unease rushed through me, an

nser as we climbed the stairs. Glancing back at Aria, I wondered if the child was Mr. Maxwell’s granddaughter. If she was, then I wanted to ask her what the old billion

abbit home anyway.” She grinned at me. “I

th to feed, and I couldn’t afford that, even a rabbit who only ate cabbage and carrots. Of course, there was

a door and opened it. “You can use th

A very large and flashy one. Marble floor. Marble basin

I’d get a quick wash with the hose in the backyard. And Sammy beside me,

. “You can come to my sitt

meeting with your

e in my sitting room anyway. We can have dinner together. The housekeep

my eyes brightened immediately. I couldn’t really turn down a meal

ng into the bathroom.

ve a nice shower,” she said. Then to