Chapter 2

Following the clues from the dream, I found it — Eastbrook Lodge, tucked away on the east side of Hearthwick, exactly where I remembered.

Vivian and I lay flat on the wall for a long time, but the place stayed dark. Not a sound out of it.

Vivian ran out of patience and turned to me. "Nobody lives here.

"Caroline, are you making a fool of me on purpose?"

The truth is, I couldn't have promised her anyone was coming.

In the dream, Dorian hadn't installed Celeste at this lodge until years into our marriage.

Everything had moved up. Maybe they hadn't taken the place yet.

My silence was all the confirmation Vivian needed.

"I'm done.

"Caroline, I'm going to Laurelcrest House right now, and I'm telling Dorian you've withdrawn.

"He can have me instead."

She let go of the wall and started to swing down, and I caught her by the sleeve.

"They're here."

Two figures had come up to the gate below us, leaning into each other.

One tall, one small. Both in broad-brimmed hats pulled low over their faces.

Vivian squinted. "How is anyone supposed to tell who that is —"

She didn't get to finish. The pair went through into the courtyard.

The moment the gate shut behind them, the hats came off.

They were on each other before they'd cleared the path, kissing like they'd been starving for it.

Vivian watched them come apart at the seams, clothing sliding loose, and her eyes went perfectly round.

"That — that really is Dorian. And that little snake."

I got a finger to my lips fast.

"Quiet. Keep watching."

I don't know how long it went on. Eventually the two of them were finished, and they came back out.

Celeste had thrown a robe on without tying it. She hooked both arms around his neck and put on a voice like syrup.

"Your Highness, I hear the reception got pushed back.

"Couldn't you just let it die there? Not choose anyone at all?

"I don't want to share you with anybody.

"Including my sister."

Vivian was shaking with fury. "That little bitch. I'm the trueborn daughter of that house."

I gave her a look.

"Your family won't even let her through the front door. Don't start claiming her as a sister now."

Vivian's face went dark, and for once she didn't come back at me.

"You don't know the whole of it.

"Rosalind — Celeste's mother — came with my mother when she married. She was her maid. She waited until my mother was pregnant, and then she got her hooks into my father.

"When my mother went into labor, Rosalind tampered with her medicine. She meant to kill both of them.

"My mother caught it in time. And she was soft-hearted about it. She wouldn't have the woman beaten to death, so she just put her out of the house.

"And Rosalind didn't end it. She kept seeing my father in secret, and she had that child.

"So you tell me why we owe either of them a place at our table."

Vivian's eyes had gone red at the rims, and for the first time in my life I felt sorry for her.

I hesitated, then took her hand.

"Don't. Once we know everything, I'll help you deal with the both of them."

Down in the courtyard, Dorian started talking.

His eyes were full of tenderness. What came out of his mouth cut Celeste to pieces.

"Celeste, I'd give you anything. Anything but this.

"Beaumont and Whitaker are the two pillars this whole realm rests on. My mother won't hear of me marrying outside them.

"That alliance is the only thing that will keep me standing later.

"Frederick and Wesley are the Queen's own sons. My mother is a consort. Without powerful backing I'll spend my whole life underneath them.

"You don't want to watch me go down, do you?"

Celeste understood the arithmetic perfectly well. She just couldn't swallow it.

"Then what happens to me?

"I've given you three years. There's nothing left of my name.

"And I'm carrying your child. He'll be born with no place in your house at all."

Dorian pulled her in closer, and what he said next put ice down my spine.