8

“The women are upset that you’ve declined all their invitations to tea in the past month”

I haven’t gotten any invitations. Why do I feel this is Niko's doing? A sigh leaves me.

“You know why I can’t go out” I cradle my swollen belly with one hand, leaning on the arm of my chair.

Already he was frustrated with me this morning at breakfast, I’d finally summoned the courage to speak of my cousin's plight to him.

“I know better than you the situation of this in Chicago” was his reply.

I had frowned at him but he remained unvarying in his decision to stay out of it. I don’t know how my aunt thought I would be able to do anything.

Last night my aunt suggested that my cousin Katherina come for a visit. After asking if Niko’s cousin Vincent has a pending arrangement.

I saw where that was leading, of course, in the case that somehow my cousin could try to catch the eyes of Vincent Salvatore, or God forbid find herself in Vincent’s bed and force Niko’s hand.

Katherina is Chicag