Chapter 4: The Photograph

Francesca’s POV

I put the photograph back exactly where I found it. My hands weren’t steady enough for exactness, but I tried anyway. I closed the drawer and I stood there for a long moment, staring at the cabinet like it might open itself again and tell me I was wrong.

I wasn’t wrong. The necklace, the mask, the way he’d looked at me like he was trying to place a stranger’s face.

I left the library before anyone found me there. When I reached my room, I decided that I wasn’t going to ask him.

Not yet.

Not when I didn’t even know what I’d be asking for. Confirmation? An apology? I didn’t know what I wanted from Julian Windsor, and until I did, I wasn’t saying anything.

So I said nothing.

I went down for breakfast the next morning like any other day. Sophie was already at the table, wrapped in a robe that cost more than most people’s rent, stirring her tea like she’d always belonged there.

“You look tired,” she said, not looking up.

“I slept fine.”

“You didn’t. You never do when you’re thinking too hard.” She smiled into her cup. “It’s a bad habit.”

“I’ll add it to the list of things wrong with me.”

Her eyes flicked up at that. “Don’t be dramatic.”

“I’m not being anything. I’m eating breakfast.”

Julian walked in before she could answer, and Sophie’s whole demeanor changed. She put on that fragile and sweet act of hers. He didn’t even look at her, he looked at me and I looked back down not wanting to give him any of my time.

“Morning,” he said.

Sophie answered for both of us. “Morning. I was just telling Francesca she looks exhausted.”

“She looks fine,” Julian said.

Sophie’s smile flickered. “I only meant…”

“I know what you meant.”

He sat down and Marta poured his coffee. Nobody spoke for a while. “I was thinking,” Sophie said eventually, “we should do something today. All of us, as a family.”

“We’re not a family,” I said.

“We could be.” She said

“We’re really not.”

Sophie reached across the table and touched Julian’s hand. “I just think it would help. People are already talking, Julian. If we’re seen together, if it looks normal…”

“It’s not normal,” I said. “None of this is normal.”

“Francesca.”

“What? You know what, enjoy your breakfast!” I said standing up.

“You haven’t eaten,” Julian said.

“As if you care.”

I left before either of them could say anything else.

Sophie found me an hour later on the balcony outside my room, which meant she’d gone looking. She never went looking for me unless she wanted something.

“You embarrassed me at breakfast,” she said, closing the door behind her.

“I didn’t say anything you didn’t deserve.”

“You never used to talk to me like this.” She said

“I never used to have a reason to.”

She crossed her arms, and the fragile act slipped. “You think this is easy for me? Coming back to a house where everyone looks at me like I’m the enemy?”

“You disappeared four days before your own wedding and let me take your place. I think ‘enemy’ is generous.”

“I had my reasons.”

“So I’ve heard.” I said

Her voice sharpened. “What matters is that you’re enjoying this, playing wife, sitting at his table and wearing his ring.”

“I’m not enjoying anything.” I said

“You looked pretty comfortable telling him I was lying.”

“You are lying.”

She stepped close. “Be careful, Francesca. You’ve always been the one nobody worried about. It would be a shame if that changed.”

I held her stare. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a fact.” She smiled. “Julian believes me. He’ll always believe me. You’re just the girl standing in the way until he remembers that.”

She left before I could answer, which was probably for the best, because I didn’t trust what I would have said.

I stood on the balcony a long time after she’d gone, replaying her words, and to be honest, she was right. Julian will probably always believe her.

That night, I couldn’t sleep again. I gave up around midnight and went down to the kitchen for water.

I thought I was the only one there, until I spotted Julian by the kitchen window. “Can’t sleep?” he asked, without turning.

“Yep.” I replie

He turned then and his eyes moved to my neck, to the pendant again. “You keep looking at it,” I said.

“I can’t help myself.” He replied

“Sophie wants a family outing,” I said, changing the subject. “Are you going to make me pretend?”

“I’m not making you do anything.” He said

“You didn’t correct her either.”

“Would it have mattered?”

I finally looked at him. “It would have mattered to me.”

He didn’t say anything and didn’t look like he was going to. “Goodnight, Julian,” I said, because it was the only thing left to say.

I turned to leave but his voice stopped me at the door. “Francesca.”

I looked back and he was staring at the pendant. “That necklace,” he said quietly. “I met a woman at a masked gala years ago who was wearing it. Then later on I saw Sophie wearing the exact same one, so I assumed that…..”

“You thought it was her.” I finished for him.

“Yeah.”

“Maybe it was her.” I said. “She probably took it that night too and I didn’t know.”

He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t look like he believed that and of course I knew it wasn’t true, because it was me that night. But I don’t think I’ll tell him, he’ll have to figure it out on his own.