smelled like new leat

nst the door, as far from Attilio as the cabin allowed.

collar covering the bruises on her neck. Dark glasses hiding her eyes. P

d. She looked like she'd

dn't spoken since they left the city, since the driver close

rating into the fast lane. Abigail gripped the door ha

rting," At

bservation, clinical

id. "New instruct

oved over her face, her posture, the way

ould fi

er

creen. "Don't injure yourself tr

ically. She felt them in her che

kind of countryside that cost millions to access. She counted the exits.

e car turned throug

one, surrounded by acres of manicured lawn and ancient trees. Abigail had be

he steps, led by Alistair, the head butler, who had served the Sh

t. He turned, automatica

l looked at his hand, at the long fingers and the platinum b

is muscle tensed beneath her touc

g, the perfect couple, the merger that ha

Welcome. Mrs. Eleanor is resting in her chambers. She a

, the way it always did for his gra

he fire in her ribs. The walls were lined with portraits of Shepards

corner of the second floor. Attilio kno

ght into gold. Eleanor Shepard sat propped against velvet pillows, smaller than

rasp of age and authority. "I thought

ed, taking her hand with practiced ease

disease. "Always business. While Julian gathers

it under

ed past him, finding Abigail in the doorway. "Includ

spine straight. "I'm recovering from a cold,

Sit down. You're m

d appeared with a tray-water, pills, the afterno

it," Abig

tated, lookin

mouth twisted. "She n

had learned this, in three years of practice, the careful

he old woman drank, her throat working,

'd finished. "A woman needs flesh to bea

. She set down the glass an

lio said, warni

still fixed on Abigail. "The trust requires an heir by year's end.

kno

gripping Abigail's wrist. "Or step aside. There are other

r wrist compress. She didn't

and," she

us. I need to speak with my grandson

anket, performed the small rituals of submission. She ki

ll," she

He was staring at his grandmother, his jaw tight,

the hallway and close

eath of space between the heavy oak and its frame. She notice

ibs, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The pain was overwhe

osed h

ame through the

ng," Attilio was saying

en clearer: "...the Hartman girl i

's eyes

inding the narrow opening, her pain forgo

d. "But I have it contained. She won't fi

otsteps approached

rom the wall and walked, fast

she'd heard. She didn

in three years, she kne

e was sharper tha

-