Love In The Shadow Of Gilded Chains

drian, crouched over shattered glass. A decanter lay ruined nea

looked up-and loc

oved for

ffortless yet somehow deliberate. Claire's heart kicked-not because of anything romantic, but becau

t before eith

ief to his wrist, trying to stem the bl

" Her voice came out

"It's nothing." His tone

Her gaze lingered on the bl

then said, "No

e. Instead, she stepped back and

fresh bread and roasted chicken. But her mother's face was

s rules, Claire. And crossing lines-ev

ike I'm always walk

lding her hands.

e weight of her mother

in her mind. Not because she felt affection, but because it was th

fractures were hidden bene

it had forgotten the noise of the world. Claire often found herself drawn here in the early evenings, when the sun hovered low and p

ng the slow swirl of water beneath the stone cherubs. The breeze stir

gela thought it was cheaper-and safer-for Claire to stay here during the holiday. But sometimes, the m

ard the foots

t here?" came Lila's voice,

and polished in a way that didn't look forced, just... practiced. Today she wore a pale g

l," Claire re

"Peaceful," she repeated, settling herself gracefully on the stone ledg

d here intermittently-an old family friend, her mother had said-but she wasn't fam

out a soft sigh. "You're not rea

ug. "Only when there's

time with a flicker of a

ve turned awkward if Claire had filled it

ghtful now, less airy. "I was practically raised here during the holidays. My parents traveled a

ightly, just enough to

d like the world was on his shoulders." She smiled to herself. "He used to sit in the

ured, "Stil

, a little surprise

said softly. "He doesn

held something between pride and longing. "He's the kind of person

idn't an

ke up and realize I've always been the constant. His mother always liked me around

hands. "So you think it'

ghtly toward he

ed. "I don't r

s and maybe Mr. Alton, his manager. I know when to leave him alone. When not to ask q

er again. "That mu

I'll keep waiting. Adrian needs someone who won't run the first t

d slightly bu