Author: admin

“Perhaps there’s some mistake. Perhaps she’ll be here soon.” He didn’t hold much hope of that. Nicholas took his mother’s arm. “Come with me.” “Where?” “We’re going to check your jewelry case.” “No!” she insisted. “Then I’ll do it.” She stood and took his arm. “All right” He threw open her door and entered her…

If they had been in that compartment that night, they might still be alive. So you see, I am responsible for their deaths. That is something I will live with for the rest of my life. That and the lies. I lied to you and pretended to be Claire so that I could take advantage…

“That’s because I’m doing it poorly. It’s just that-you don’t seem suited to Stephen to me. There, I’ve said it.” Alessia blinked and absorbed the woman’s quickly spoken words. “Oh, I know opposites attract and all that, and I’m not saying Stephen didn’t have a hundred reasons to admire and love you. Heaven knows you’re…

“You know as well as I do that I’d never seen you before that evening at the restaurant.” “You and I know that. But the Hallidays don’t.” She raised a haughty brow and looked at Alessia through her kohled lashes. “Yet.” Alessia couldn’t catch her breath. “And I assume you want it to stay that…

“What about your mother?” he asked. “Don’t worry about her. I’ve arranged for Mrs. Trent to watch her while we’re gone.” “I wasn’t worried about her. I thought you might like to take her along for the outing.” Her pale eyebrows drew together, and he regretted chasing the content expression from her face. “I’ll ask…

“No, you won’t,” he argued with a raised palm. “Tell your mother good-night.” She gave Celia a concerned glance. The woman had slumped over on the bed. A light snore parted her lips. “Sweet dreams, Mother.” Nicholas raised Celia’s feet to the mattress and covered her with the thick counterpane before walking toward Alessia. “I…

“Lemonade sounds good.” They filled tin cups and drank. “Come on, I want you to meet some of the others.” Alessia walked beside her, and Mary introduced her to the wives of the iron workers. Several of them wore dresses made over from Claire’s clothing. Even the children wore bright-colored shirts and pinafores. Alessia smiled,…

Alessia groaned. “I can’t eat another bite.” “At least try it.” He extended his fork, a succulent bite of red filling and flaky crust on the tip. Alessia had no choice but to accept the offering. She opened her mouth, and he fed her the bite. She caught a bit of crust with her tongue….

“Aren’t you going to-?” “No,” he said, and it was the hardest decision he’d ever made. “But-but…” Clearly, she didn’t know what to say or think. “You’ve just had a baby, Claire.” At that she tensed. “It’s been months,” she replied. “But you don’t need to have another one,” he argued logically. She had no…

“Penelope brought your dinner. You just slept through it and she cleared it away,” Alessia said calmly. “I didn’t want the whole blamed house up,” she said, unsteadily getting to her feet. “I just wanted somethin’ to eat!” Nicholas stood, grabbed an embroidered linen scarf from a decorative table nearby and knelt again. “Don’t-” Alessia…