a few plain sets of clothes, and a slim, black garment bag tucked into a hidden compartment-something that had

al anatomy textbook with its spine taped back together; and a rare, cloth-bound catalog from a Geneva auction house, its

w professionally bandaged by the family doctor, was on the

nd, Melinda Ashford. "She attacked me like some ki

Kara grew up with no breeding. I'm so worried she'

e circles. Everyone was eager to see the Sexton f

veway. Charles Sexton, the patriarch, finally made an a

ara, not even bothering to ask what happened. "I

ave a cold,

k her father's arm and shot Kara a triumpha

d the black garment bag and quietly got into the

el. The grand ballroom glitter

cé, Preston Vaughn, and a crowd of friends, all "concerned" about

ice entrance. The driver, an old man who had once served her mother, gave her a sil

a Sexton daughter was never meant to own, let alone recognize. Yet Kara handled the fabric with

y a very few people in the world could call in-and the Sextons would never believe she was one of them. She typed back

sylvania?" Melinda Ashford said loudly. "She pro

ittered wit

t at the Sexton table was fi

ith each passing minute. He

was about to begin his speech, th

died. Every

silhouetted aga

she wa

ot the girl in the

thousands of tiny, sewn-in diamonds, as if she had draped herself in the Milky Wa

welry, save for a pair of small sapphire studs that matched her dress. Her makeup wa

room was

Belt bumpkin. T

acidic, burned in her throat. That dress... it was a

hford's ja

is daughter for the first time. He ne

moved with an unhurried grace, her heels clicki

triking fear into the hearts of ever