Chapter 1
Nora was still on one knee when Alessandro took the riding crop from Vivienne’s hand.
A red welt crossed the maid’s shoulder beneath the torn edge of her uniform.
She was breathing hard.
Yet the first thing she did was look at Lily.
“Drink, sweetheart.”
Vivienne laughed.
Actually laughed.
“Look at her.”
She brushed grass from her expensive dress as though nothing important had happened.
“One lash and she’s still pretending to be a hero.”
Nora’s eyes lowered.
Lily clutched the soda can with both hands.
Then she looked at Alessandro.
“Nora didn't drink hers.”
Her voice shook.
“She gave it to me because mine was hot.”
Alessandro slowly looked toward Nora.
Her lips were dry.
There was sweat along her hairline.
She had been serving guests outside for hours.
Vivienne rolled her eyes.
“Oh, please.”
She looked toward the surrounding capos.
“Are we mourning the maid now?”
No one answered.
Vivienne continued.
“She is paid to carry trays, not make decisions.”
Then her eyes dropped toward Lily.
“And that child needs to learn that crying ‘thirsty’ does not make the whole estate stop spinning.”
Lily moved closer to Alessandro.
Vivienne saw it.
Her mouth curved.
“There.”
She pointed.
“That is exactly what I mean.”
Her voice became sweeter.
Crueler.
“One little sniffle and Daddy appears.”
Alessandro’s expression did not change.
That frightened several guests.
Vivienne did not seem to notice.
Or did not care.
Gerald pushed a broken picnic shelf away and stood.
“You're making a spectacle over a soda.”
He straightened his jacket.
Then looked at Nora.
“Staff who can't follow a simple order don't belong in houses like this.”
Nora’s fingers tightened against her apron.
Gerald smiled.
“Don't look offended.”
His gaze moved over her uniform.
“You mop floors for people who decide what happens in this city. You don't get opinions.”
Alessandro turned his head.
The smile on Gerald’s face weakened slightly.
Not enough.
Alessandro looked back at Nora.
“Who told you Lily couldn't have a drink?”
Nora swallowed.
“Miss Cross.”
Vivienne lifted her chin.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
The arrogance was effortless.
She looked directly at Alessandro.
“You brought me into this house to become your wife.”
Her fingers touched the engagement ring.
“I will not ask permission every time a servant decides to spoil your daughter.”
Alessandro’s thumb slowly stopped moving over his signet ring.
“You're not my wife yet.”
Vivienne smiled.
“Then maybe start acting like a man who intends to have one.”
A few guests looked down.
Gerald smirked.
Vivienne continued.
“Lily had been told to wait.”
“She ignored me.”
“Nora undermined me.”
Her eyes returned to the maid.
“So I corrected the person who forgot her place.”
Nora finally looked up.
“You weren't angry because I gave her a soda.”
Vivienne’s face changed.
Very little.
Enough.
Alessandro noticed.
Gerald did too.
“Nora,” he warned.
Alessandro looked toward him.
Gerald stopped talking.
Nora’s breathing became faster.
“She told everyone not to touch the cooler.”
Vivienne laughed.
“Because it was for luncheon service.”
Nora shook her head.
“No.”
Her voice was quiet.
“You said nobody was allowed near the lower compartment.”
Vivienne’s smile vanished.
Only for a second.
Then it returned sharper.
“Because I don't enjoy servants pawing through things that aren't theirs.”
Alessandro looked toward the large beverage cooler.
Then back.
“I never said which compartment she touched.”
Silence.
Vivienne’s eyes hardened.
Nora stared at her.
Alessandro continued.
“In fact, nobody said she opened anything.”
Gerald’s jaw tightened.
Power shifted.
Small.
But everyone felt it.
Alessandro walked toward the cooler.
Vivienne stepped into his path.
“Don't be ridiculous.”
He stopped.
She smiled up at him.
Still arrogant.
“You're really going to dig through ice because your maid is embarrassed she got disciplined?”
Lily spoke from behind him.
“Nora didn't open it.”
Vivienne looked toward her.
The contempt returned immediately.
“Adults are talking.”
Alessandro’s head turned.
Vivienne ignored the warning.
Lily tightened both hands around the soda.
“I opened it.”
The garden went silent.
Alessandro crouched.
“What did you see?”
Vivienne snapped:
“Lily.”
Alessandro slowly stood.
Vivienne realized her mistake.
Too late.
Lily pointed toward the cooler.
“There was a little black door behind the cans.”
Gerald’s face changed.
Nora closed her eyes.
Alessandro looked at Vivienne.
She still held her chin high.
But her fingers had tightened around her engagement ring.
May you like
Lily continued.
“And somebody knocked from the other side.”
