came at

k. Not urgent.

enough, the housekeeper stood stiffly in the hall, hands f

walls, "Mr. Volkov requests that you and your daughter at

nked. "A

from the Upper East Side. She is Mr

is opt

blinked

. "Right. Si

away, heels clicking once on the polished floo

leaning her forehead a

ind her. "Are we

a party. Just dinner. With some

a sh

y like

ed in a circle. "Do I

negotiate on tights.

gin preparing like she was ge

r a moment longer, fing

rm

ke this. Formal didn't mean "put on y

f saying because you didn't come prepared for our standards. The garme

gans and wool-blend neutrals until she

mer. Fitted at the waist, forgiving th

fingers acros

ould

beside it. The city gleamed out

n't just

an asse

er life passing pop

d handle

bone china, and a woman with blood

rble announced her befor

er the chandelier's too-bright scrutiny. Zoe clutched a pink marker in one hand like a talisman. Anya had wre

d with mechanical precision

t walk. S

harp enough to slice, and a string of pearls that probably cost more than Anya's annual salary. Her cheekbones lo

over the room

Vera had clearly already read every line of the will, proba

e, something flickered. Not

l. No tie tonight. Just clean lines, buttoned c

," he

arm with a single gloved

e you'r

I hate lateness. Or were you hoping t

hey fright

ile poised but empty. "And t

d a hand. "A

dn't sh

oe. "And the heiress to the s

I don't know w

, maintaining perfect

a very... surpris

Surprises are

em both, taking her seat at the head of the t

s hand tighter

the moment, met

s someth

symp

warn

allet of silen

er than her dress allowed. Across the white linen battlefield, Vera sat poised, her back straight, her wine glass untouche

ncy of invisible staff: white asparagus soup ga

n rested her spoon pre

with unearned sweetness, "

d, though her smile didn

and you're

smoothing her na

tilted her head sli

tone even. "It

sure the child

ey

that? Were you always in education

hen-the hook

ent," she said calmly. "While worki

kable. I suppose necessit

ble, Dimitri'

tween them, e

ued, casually dissecting her s

r. Volkov, I mean. Wer

lone," Anya said. "Wit

she found i

, "but not because o

e. "No, I suppose chara

ened he

Zoe beat

cold house," Zoe said, frowning. "And she d

oom s

oon still

opped into her

oke over her.

n turned

"Sometimes the smallest voice

d. "What's

braver than mos

oon down gently

Dimitri corrected, r

ard was not awkwar

mouth. "Well. I suppose everyo

lly genuine. "Exactly. And some p

lly choked in

aid no

bite of sou

, the table was a still-life painting

dropped into the room, hummed as she nib

mastered the art of pretending she'd never been challenged. Bu

uarded and skeptical, but... curious. Changed. His gaze lingered t

n't bac

enting than that-she

nst a smirk. He reached for his water instead of his wine, whi

bread wasn't interesting e

nly ask questions if we real

d a brow.

sk things just to sound smart. But my

ly droppe

e for a long, un

e faintest, most imperceptible

s... ackno

stinction,"

urned to her roll,

her water glass, suddenly a

itri was still watching her.

.. wa

quiet one," she said,

ied. "I just pi

this

nfinitesimally. "This one

air between them warmed

ice had changed. Le

. inte

to her plate, cheeks betrayin

le, Vera didn'

just heard the first note of a sym

osed behind Vera when t

and crouched beside Zoe's chair

ed. "Did

nya said. "B

soft warmth. "She'll be es

dow, already half-shadowed in the dimming lig

her," he said. "

ween them. "Am

d, brushing a curl behind

ed by silence and led Zoe out gently

hem. Stillness thickening th

d her. He circled it, almost aimlessly, like he

, one hand braced on the ba

ever insult you didn't get to

"You think I brought you

voice was tight, but steady. "Y

my attack

family." Her t

e like I was some peasa

ietly. "She already decided you weren't w

. "Where do you stan

answer r

candlelight caught the edge of his jaw, c

from her and not flinch. I watched your daughter put her in her place

d the spectacl

now we ent

" he

word st

ped-low, rough aro

sement?" he asked, slowly. "I was wat

idn't

stayed

nya," he said, quieter now.

her breath, shallower now, her lips

steppe

cl

n them, suddenly felt l

ad, almost in disbelief, "-you walk into this house like you're alread

tightened. "

ed-just briefl

ad slipped again. And this time, t

nothin

n't ha

long, neither of them moved

th

choed faintly

moment like glass

tepped

he ice slammed back do

d out of the dining

ands were