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Chapter 1

From the front-turretof Mada Vittora’s Paris townhouse, Anouk couldn’t see the fountain at the far end of Rue des Amants She could see, however, the hopeful souls who made their way down the sidewalk, tourists and Parisians alike, souidebooks and others who knew the route by heart, in search of the granted wishes that, according to an obscure fifteenth-century legend (and more recently made famous in a e for touching a lucky part of the fountain What lucky part, Anouk wasn’t sure No one would tell her exactly what it was a statue of No books in the house end, and Mada Vittora wouldn’t allow a computer or television inside Perhaps the fountain was a statue of a bubblingboy; maybe wishers were supposed to touch a special hoof or rub a lucky fin or a luckyboy part Anouk could hardly go outside and look for herself Mada Vittora strictly forbade her to leave Her whole life—?twelve h she looked closer to seventeen years old—?she’d never set astoe beyond the front door

A couple made their way down the sidewalk opposite the townhouse, and Anouk settled into theseat, cradling her chin in her hands, and watched Tourists, doubtless Aave the hands, which made Anouk smile, but their faces were anxious It was a look she saw too often Wishers focused on the one thing they wanted so badly that they took this detour into the outskirts of the Sixteenth Arrondissement, to an area of Paris that had no other draw, no famous patisseries or cafés or landmarks except for the obscure fountain, in hopes that by soend was real

Anouk knew the fountain’s ic was only a story, but sometimes, secretly, she wasn’t so certain It was the wishers’ faces Always strained on the way to the fountain but lighter on the return, as though the siiven them part of what they so desperately needed She’d seen Mada Vittora create incredible things, floating cakes and poison earrings and mirrors that showed far-off places, but she’d never once conjured a look of joy on anyone’s face

She watched the Alass until she couldn’t see theod? Yes, od Now the view beyond the turret as the sa townhouses across the street The line of parked cars, most of thearden that no one ever remembered to water

A sleek car slid into the empty space in front of the townhouse, and Anouk sat up Mada Vittora was back Anouk quickly checked her hair, her nails, the floors for any rogue specks of dust she ht have missed The driver’s-side door opened and Beau appeared, tall and good-looking, in his black suit with his chauffeur’s hat shading his eyes, and strode around to the back He paused to stifle a yawn before opening the rear door

Mada Vittora clilasses She wore the fox-fur coat that had been delivered last week from Galeries Lafayette As soon as it caether and told Anouk that she siether as she had curled Anouk’s hair and rubbed blush into her cheeks and paraded her around the house in tottering high heels and the coat

My pretty girl, Mada Vittora had said, looking over Anouk’s shoulder in the mirror My pretty little beastie

Anouk juures slid out of the car’s back seat, catching her eye, and her good mood soured Both of theht that matched his mother’s, the other with hair a dirty shade of charcoal What were Viggo and Hunter Black doing in the city? Mada Vittora had sent them to handle business in London just last Tuesday Surely they hadn’t arranged everything so soon

Anouk stepped back silently as Mada Vittora swept up the front steps

“We’re going to have company, my sweet” Mada Vittora ran her nails down Anouk’s cheek as she breezed into the foyer, tossing her coat on the entry table The fox fur smelled of leather and perfu it in the hall closet “To too You’ll have to air out the ballroom It still smells of sulfur”