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Now.

Before I think better of it.

I leave Father’s study and take the back stairs. The house is fully awake now. Staff move below. Somewhere, Audrey’s voice cuts through the morning, issuing instructions.

I keep moving.

When I reach the staff corridor, I stop outside Hazel’s door and knock.

Hazel opens the door and her eyebrows shoot upward. “Mr. Vexley. What can I do for you?”

Behind her, Ella rises from the chair.

The moment she sees me, she retreats into a shell. Her shoulders pull in by a fraction. Her chin lowers.

I hate it.

“May we have the room?” I ask Hazel.

Hazel narrows her eyes.

“Hazel,” I say.

“I heard you.”

“Then you understand I’m not asking for permission.”

Hazel looks back at Ella and then steps into the hallway. “I have work to do anyway.” She looks over her shoulder at Ella. “I’ll be down the hall. Not far.” She leaves.

I close the door.

Ella stands near the chair, hands still folded, still looking down. “Did you need something, Mr. Vexley?”

Mr. Vexley. Last night I was Nathaniel.

Last night I was inside her. The first man to ever take her.

“Why didn’t you take the town car home?”

She looks up. “That’s why you’re here?”

“Yes.” A lie. Though not entirely.

A pause. “I got home.”

“That wasn’t my question.”

“I didn’t realize I was required to use the car.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t do that.”

She purses her lips. “Do what? You’re the one asking about transportation.”

“I’m asking why you left alone.”

She meets my gaze this time. Her eyes are bloodshot and puffy, but damn, they’re still beautiful.

“I didn’t want to ride home in another thing you paid for,” she says.