Chapter Two – The Gallery

It hits her just as she's taking the first bite of quail in aspic. The room blurs at the edges as she fights not to cry out, a tear sliding down one cheek. His hand comes across the table to capture it on one fingertip as it falls.

She forces herself to eat slowly around the buzzing in her core, each tiny bite threatening to choke her. He watches her every movement like a hawk as she sips at mineral water, slides the meat around on her plate.

The Baroness ...