st target was Mrs. Gable, our housekeeper, a kind, sturdy woman who had been with our family since before I

into the kitchen to fi

hing the bowl away. "The shock could be detrim

d. "Miss Olivia, it's the s

hand. "Perhaps this house is too much for you to manage anymore. I need

e was trying to strip away my last

nds clenched at my sides

n her lips. "Emily. I'm just expressin

s," I said, my voice firm. I looked directly at the housekeepe

aste, and looked back at my cousin. "It's

pected me to cower, to let her hav

re you always so mean to me, Emily?" she whimpered, her voice cracking. "You kn

thing becoming shallow and ragge

ne look at Olivia's tear-streaked face an

hat did you do?" he demanded, h

her face in his chest. "Just because I'm sic

or God's sake, Emily, look at her! She's fragile. Why can't you show an

dn't care. He had chosen his role as Olivia's

embrace, a flicker of triumph in her wet eyes.

tender, meant for both her and me to hear. "I'm here. I

nd punish me. The absurdity of it was thick in the air, a bitter taste in my mouth. They weren't just stealing my future; they were trying to gasl