Love In The Shadow Of Gilded Chains

ed taller than

arly morning sun, casting long, elegant shadows on the pebbled driveway. She had seen them a hundred times in passing, in pictures her mother had sec

t... her m

imply stayin

id when she convinced Mr. Devereux to let Claire stay in the maid's quarters over the holiday. It wasn't unusual for sta

ed with a slow, graceful creak. The driver-an older man named Gabriel greeted her politely and led her throu

es, a grand fountain that shimmered in the center of the roundabout driveway. Birds

ntrance, apron already tied, her expre

pered, pulling Claire i

d a smile. "It's... b

off Claire's shoulder. "You're only here a few weeks. Just lay l

*. She wasn't here to cause trouble. She just needed peace. Time away from school noise,

smelled like fresh lemon polish and expensive wood. Every step Cl

wing-modest bed, a wooden desk, a window with a vi

tyard, legs curled beneath her, sketchpad in hand. She was scrib

supposed t

essed in joggers and a fitted black tee. His dark curls were sl

linked.

said it more like a cha

lowly. "I'm Cl

in, eyes narrowing as if trying to measure her.

refully. "Just staying for a shor

icked to the sketchpad, then back to her.

he'd come, he turned. "Ju

ed through t

ath she didn't reali

name yet. But she al

n't li

t understand... that stun

er mother had warned her-Adrian Devereux wasn't known for his warmth. She had never spoken ill of the family, but Claire could read betw

y he looked at her-guarded bu

stood, stirring something fragrant. The ro

" her mom asked w

"Yeah. Dark curl

's Adrian. Second so

arby stool. "He told me

t made for people like us to be comfortable, Claire. Just keep

o cause problems. But she wasn't

ury swirl around her like a world she didn't belong to. A sleek black car pulled up to the front st

er, her apron wrink

're h

hem?" Cla

eux and Adrian. The first

her lip. "What

rning look. "Best you do

. The room was quiet. But the air in the mansion felt...

r pencil danced lightly, shaping the stern angle of a jawlin

and erased

hen-large, gleaming, and five times the size of any she'd ever