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I hear so I at first assu around upstairs It would be the only thing sh to wind a path around our trap

But then the baseins to rattle at the top of the steps The bolts pop open, one at a ti I whisper his name I say I think someone has broken in He doesn’t answer me I turn around, and the cot is empty

At the top of the stairs the basement door flies open

But instead of the darkness of our house, there’s sunlight, and the arden I have ever seen

I barely have time to take it all in before the doors close in front of irls

"Rowan," I gasp, and throwto console myself But reality does not offer a safe haven I’m still in this Florida mansion, still the intended bride of the House Governor, and Rose is gasping for her life down the hall while voices try to soothe her

My legs and hips feel sore when I stretch theainst the satin sheets I peel back the blankets, assessa plain white slip My skin is tingling and hairless My nails have been rounded and polished I’m back in my bedroom, with itsthat doesn’t open and its bathroo

As if on cue, my bedroom door opens, and I don’t knohat to expect Gabriel, beaten and lienerations co to exfoliate, fluff, and perfume what’s left of my skin; a doctor with a needle and another scary table, this ti what looks to be a heavy white package in her tiny arentle as only a child’s can be "How are you feeling?"

My ansouldn’t be kind, so I don’t say anything

She flits across the roo a wispy white dress rather than her traditional unifor the package on the dressing table and undoing the bow that was holding it together The dress is taller than she is, and it drags luxuriously along the floor as she holds it up It glitters with diamonds and pearls

"It should be your size," Deirdre says "They measured you while you were out, and I made some alterations to be sure Try it on"

The last thing I want to do is try on what is clearly own, just so I can meet House Governor Linden, the hn, whose nao pale in the elevator But she’s holding up the dress and looking so syive her a hard tiown and allow myself to be zipped in

Deirdre stands on the otto table to tie the choker for own is a re my amazement A blush spreads across her apple cheeks, and she nods as she steps down

"The diaest time to thread The rest is easy," she says

The dress is strapless, shaped like the top of a heart at my collarbone The train is V shaped And I suppose, from an aerial view, I could be a satiny white heart as I ine a lovelier thing to wear oni dresses by yourself ?" I say

Deirdre shakes her head, and gently guides me to sit on the ottoman "Just yours," she says "You’re my keeper; I’m your domestic The other wives each have their own"

She opens a drawer in the dressing table, and it is lush with cose brush in her hand, she gestures to the buttons on the wall just above , that’s how you can reach ins to paintmy chin up to inspect me

Her eyes are serious and wide When she’s satisfied, she starts onon about information she feels will be useful to arden It goes in order of age, youngest first So there will be a bride before you and a bride after There’s the exchange of vows, of course, but the voill be read for you; you won’t be required to speak Then there’s the exchange of the rings, and let’s see what else"

Her voice trails off, into a sea of description; floating candles; dinner arrangements; even how softly I should speak

But everything she says blurs into one hideous ht I have no hope of escaping before it occurs; I haven’t even been able to open a ; I haven’t even seen the outside of this wretched place I feel sick, winded I’d settle for being able to open thenot to escape but to gasp in the fresh air I open my mouth to take a deep breath, and Deirdre pops a red candy into my mouth

"It’ll make your breath sweet," she says The candy dissolves instantly, and I’ like strawberries and tooat first, and then it subsides, tastes natural, even settles my anxiety so pleased with herself She nudgesthe mirror for the first time

I’m stunned by what I see

My eyelids have been painted pink, but it is not the obnoxious pink of the bathroom here It’s the color between the reds and yellows at sunset It sparkles as though full of little stars, and recedes into light purples and soft whites My lips are done to