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I pursethe desire to tell hio back to Manhattan I can’t let hio Truth doesn’t factor into my escape plan

"I didn’t mean to hurt you," I say "I suppose I was just jealous You haven’t paid any attention to ht that if we could have the party here, you would feel better It would be like a funeral for Rose You could celebrate your new es and move on"

He looks so taken aback, so touched by my lie, that I al dissected in the baseainst hi on the edge of consciousness, she made me swear that I would look after Linden, and I promised I would I didn’t expect to keep that proood in the meantime

"I wanted to bury her," he says, "but ood idea He says we don’t know if the virus she had--" His voice catches, and he takes a ave me her ashes"

I wait for him to mention the child that was scattered here, but he doesn’t That is a privacy he means to keep

Orto scatter her?" I ask

"I did," he says "Last night after the party I thought it was tiood-bye"

After his tryst with Cecily, I suppose Even Cecily’s adoration can’t subdue his heartache But I don’t say anything Now is not the time to talk about Cecily Instead we turn, ar mansion that is covered in ivy I think of the ivy leaf I’ve hidden for ically, and all the while I wonder whose ashes were really scattered last night

For the next few nights Linden invites all three of us to dine with hihts he stays in my bed All we do is talk and sleep He lies in the blankets and watches me rub lotion on my hands, brushtea I don’t mind his presence so much I knoould be too much for Jenna, and I would prefer that he leave Cecily alone, because she will let hi to her, and her sudden frailty worriedafter the party I know she’s jealous that he’s co to me now, and I think it’s none of her business, so I answer none of her questions But Linden and I don’t even touch, except for so ripples into my dreams

He will talk to me until I succu s extra food for Linden, ill ask for unpredictable things such as a cup of syrup or grapes, which he will eat by dangling the vine over his lips Gabriel stops hiding June Beans forto him We don’t have many chances to some for walks in the daytis all three of us down to the pool Jenna sunbathes; Cecily soht that suggest a childhood and freedom she will never have I spend rams of jel-lyfish and the ocean floor Sharks speed towardthe path for schools of bright yellow and orange fish, whales as big as the pool itself Sos are real, and I dive deeper and deeper, searching for Atlantis, and then finding only the bottom of the pool

There are whole days like this And it’s nice, I think

Like having freedo sisters Even Jenna will dip her toes into the water, give me a little splash

One afternoon Cecily and I conspire to each grab one of her ankles and pull her in Jenna screa that we’re awful and she hates us But eventually she coo under; we try to catch holographic guppies

Linden doesn’t swirams He’s pale and thin in his swi on a daain Maybe he’ll start to leave the property Maybe he’ll attend a party And I will be on his arm

I know my escape will have to be carefully planned and that I won’t be able to siht out But maybe there will be a televised event

Maybe Roill be watching and he’ll see that I’et an extra towel from the cabinet by the door, and I ale juice in stelasses

"Sorry," I say

"Sounds like you’re having fun," he says, not quitemy eyes "Excuse lance overand splashing at the pool on the other side of the glass door, are watching Gabriel turns to face ?" I ask

"No I just didn’t think you had ti the darkness in his norentle eyes "Now that you’re the wife of a House Governor"

"Hey, wait ato explain, Lady Rhine," he says

That’s technically what the help is supposed to call ht air to carry it, because around the house I have always been Rhine Or blondie

Though Gabriel is right, I haven’t been able to speak to anyone but Linden andon the kitchen counter and talking to the cooks, and Ito Gabriel Ilow on s I can say in Linden’s or Househn’s presence, and I never see Gabriel anymore unless at least one of them is nearby

"What is it?" I say "What did I do?"

"I guess I just didn’t expect you to fall for the House Governor so easily," he says