ks on my door. Soft. Hesit

it withou

richest families in the country. Like she wasn't supposed to

sit. She di

our help,

r behind her. My

with

cles under her eyes, the chipped polish on her na

e a child,"

ked the air o

do you

ing it. Or pretending to. But it doesn't

i..

of the ab

le

still. My b

out that. Not out l

cking. "That I could fake it, that I'd have time, that no

d, heart thudding. "

u to take

was short and

not se

a

N

eas

ng that. Tha

ly one who can

nd that's t

ront of me. Gr

ing to expect something. And Godwin is obsessed with lineage. He wants a

a surroga

he said. "You'd live the role. Tempor

hoed. "You think th

een better at pr

and walked to the window. Outside, the s

ater," I said. "This is rea

't love me. He barely talks to

if he

right now, you're the o

ve

sacrifice. Like

d back

en know wha

"He's cold. Private. Always tra

me to slee

ou to giv

t me to give

nce

: "Y

d at eac

eyes. Iden

ne real, on

closer. Lowe

aunt's place for a week. All I need is time. A few days. You m

hen he

t all your life. Y

't wait

hugg

ight. Needy. Uns

packed a bag a

icked me up without a word. The butler bowed. The cook sm

walked in lik

fast. The perfume she wore. How she spoke. What sh

wed the

ited words. Crossed

ifying how

ck on the

n Don

hed open the door to the

lm. Disc

" he said, ey

wed. "Of

asn't sure. You sai

nic. "Chang

nod

ered.

tch and placed it

quiet,

y prefer it

te

faintly

to the closet. Rol

hed hi

d. T

ome early

figured I'd try being

inside o

nd. His eyes l

different,

mach f

w s

n't know. Softer

rug. "Must be

her second. Then w

w his face. Curious

t

lence. The steak was perfect. The wine expensi

nally

ver dri

n pushed the gla

so hate

terpiece. A dozen r

ot

"Did something happe

ou mean besides ma

ght him

uth tw

e look

ay in the bed Eliora

in after

not

the cover

mth was

so hard I thought

oing to ask?"

k w

'm dif

d it was

o me, eyes

fect," he said. "

isse

ly. Not

...

stinct was

I di

ed him

El

r

he co

hat was now m

to my waist. M

is pho

ulled away, che

muttered. "

ft the room,

to the pill

eren't going to be a

happen if he ever discovered

kissed me. And I kissed him back. And now