a De Lu

ygen from the room. A dull ringing started in m

. She was waiting for the explosion. The tears, th

ching me with the detached curiosity of a scie

ve them

k the hot sting of tears. My spine straightened, a s

y toward the enormous desk. My movements were measured, gracefu

r of the mahogany, my fingertips brushing agai

A farewell. To my work, to my value, to

weapon, and I could feel it unnerving them more than any o

the doorknob

er Alessandro's shoulder to land, f

st a vast, empty coldness. The lo

her triumphant eyes, and instinct

mouth to lift in a smile so faint, so chilling,

me, shutting them in wi

y composure holding by a thread, and then I saw her. At the far end of the corridor,

n, but not before I saw the emotion in her

as p

cut than Alessandro's cruelty. I had always been the untouchable Mrs. De Luca, a

The argument hadn't been contained within the study. The

ess of the house. I was a joke. The

wn the next hall, more servants were suddenly busy, th

wn, all in the sp

uite. My hand trembled as I turned the key in t

inst the door, and l