Chapter 6: The Dinner

On Monday night my father gave a dinner to celebrate me.

The long table in the Lake Forest dining room was set for twelve with the good silver.

Chisolm's investors sat on one side, six men in dark suits with their wives or girlfriends.

My father sat at the head with his face shining.

My stepmother sat at the foot in pearls.

Chisolm held my chair, and his fingers stayed on my shoulder an extra second.

"You look very well," he said, low. "Remember your lines."

Under the table, in the pocket of my dress, I held the flip phone.

I had typed a message in the powder room.

Merrow house. Monday dinner. Now.

Leontine had answered immediately.

Stay where there are people.

I had washed my hands and walked back to the table with my chin up.

There were twelve people in that room, and I had been told to stay where there were people.

My father raised his glass.

"To the merger of two houses," Augustus said.

"Cornelius Chisolm, a man of vision, and my daughter Juliana, who has finally learned the value of a good match."

"Hear, hear," said an investor.

I stood up.

The chairs went quiet.

I held my left hand out over the table so that every one of them could see the ring.

"I want to thank you for the dinner," I said.

"Juliana," Chisolm said.

"I want to tell you what you've bought into."

My father's face began to change color.

"Sit down."

"My father paid his debt with me," I said, clear and pleasant.

"The company wasn't his to give. It sits in a trust until I turn twenty-nine, and until then my husband signs for my shares."

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