Chapter 17

He’d let the crewman disappear once before. Now that he was back in his life, Eduard wouldn’t let Reza slip away again so easily.

Thoughts of Reza distracted Eduard. The smile he gave Marien’s friends was distant, though it sharpened whenever his wife spoke. He’d turn toward her as if attracted by the sound of her voice, and when he did, she would giggle like a young bride. As the chairs and loveseats in the drawing room became draped with young women and their stern faced mothers, Eduard muttered to Marien, “Can’t I leave yet?”

“The governor-general’s wife hasn’t arrived,” she told him, smiling around sweetly at her guests. As he folded his hands behind him, she asked, “Why’d you stop touching me? Where’s your hand?”