s on her knees, scrubbing the

seeped through the thi

by, her heels clicking

ot bothering to stop. "Do it aga

the bucket of cold water and scrubbed the same spot

tripped of her name, her identity. She was just t

ey would leave trays just out of her reach. They would "ac

d's silent orders. Isolate h

ng the silver in the dining ro

quires you in th

ohnson,' was now r

maid. Her heart began to beat a slow, heavy dru

by the fireplace, stari

s seated o

s and a fragile air about her. She wore a

insley A

iv

doorway. The air left h

tasia's, and a flicker of triumphant malice crosse

Courtland," she whispered, her voice tr

otective arm around Kinsley's shoulders. He looked

" he demanded. "You'

t was tight. The world had dissolve

y was

prison. The degradation.

She managed

Go back to your work. And don't

her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "I'm s

er hair. "I'm here. I won't l

oom. Her body moved on its ow

d up a silver fork. Her reflection in its

. Anastasia is blamed, her reputation ruined, her life destroyed. Then, when she

s guilt and his devotion, wo

asia pay for a crime th

g, Kinsley found

you some tea," she said, her voice sweet, dri

rning poison that had made her bleed for weeks before her arrest. The concoction Dr. Manning

Anastasia said,

ourtland wants you to be healthy." She pushed the

so blatant

ey's eyes. She saw the pure

fted t

drank

r liquid scald

this. She would

t to Aspen. B