Breakfast

he maids moved quickly, setting dishes on the long mah

how to breathe in the same spac

at. His voice carried quiet authority, the

t night. Too tired to attend Andrea's engageme

atters to atte

t my stomach twist

ds like he doesn't. Or ma

rned to Andrea. "Congrat

with an exaggerated sweetness. "Than

awkward, guilty. I immediat

of tea. "We'll have to ta

from there. You don't

hand, clattering softl

d me, too fast, like he had been

s steady, almost casual. "Mara wi

. "Excu

y this time. "You'll be my

urprised. "That's sudden,

said evenly. "Her presen

ened. "I never

s smooth, unraised, but final. "You start ne

ry. "You can't

said softly.

ept across

right, dear. It's... what Philip would hav

aran

to this family. A ring. A

hed his chair back.

without

ait a second af

you don't want that pos

n?" I asked, gen

d, annoyed, an

e stoo

I don't want that positio

n't eve

, Mara. You don't get t

he lef

way. The food sudde

door, David's

they've been

ok back. I

at on the edge of the b

f man was E

to think he was

my palms. I a

ne ran

, I'm reminding you, your appointment is exactly one

h escaped m

ou've been skipping

I'll come.

r, I kept t

ded straight to Clara's office. She stood at the end o

sternness. "Look who finally dec

nd hugged her. "I'

l." She pulled back, studying

f people who want me gone

d I heard about David's engagement.

nt to talk

efore you faint on my fl

er inside. She shut the door an

ping my file open. "Fi

cked up. "G

ly. Hormones still adjusting. Your uterus is st

ught. "So I'

ou're not Superwoman. No stress. No lif

You sound li

who doesn't want you

t pressed against my ches

n't you t

oked

e said. "St

ed. "Clara... so

he

he

ilty?" She piled qu

"I slept wi

"Okay. It hap

"At the engag

"Mara! Don't tell

dn't let that happen. I

wed her e

turns out... he's

ze comp

. No, you

swear, I wasn't

ed!" she nearly shrieked.

whispered. "Clara,

ice softene

Not Andrea. Not Camille. Not

kno

y, your peace, your reputation, stay away from h

my throat. "Am I.

ly, hurting, and fate screwed you over.

u need to keep it a secret, Mara. Completely.

aught it immediately

ip's baby. Your pregnancy was dangerous from the start. One day you'll explain it to them, but for now...

you, Clara? I love you so much. God really ble

ds gently. "I'm her

d to the mansi

so I slipped into th

ple, leaning against the counter,

d to gr

fr

he doorway, hand

know you w

s he kno

" I said, avo

ing around. "You

d say t

, heavy. It's our first real

ilip," he said fi

ou," I w

"I wanted to reach out sooner.

wouldn

softened expression-f

etter than thi

something in his eyes softened

've been looking e

ed the moment as she s