The Seventh Time novel · Chapter 11 of 24

Chapter 11: Dawn

I yanked my sweater on.

Killian was already pulling a shirt over his head, and his hands didn't shake at all.

"Stay up here," he said.

"No."

"Romy."

"I'm not hiding in your childhood bedroom, Killian. If your father wants to look at me, he can."

He studied my face, and something in his own settled.

He took my hand.

We went down the main stairs together, past the empty walls and the brass lamps, and into the front hall.

The door was already open.

A cold breeze came in with Broderick Ashworth.

He wore the camel coat and carried a leather case, and behind him came Delphine in a travel suit, smoothing her hair.

The housekeeper stood by the coat rack with her hands folded and a face like a closed door.

The driver stayed on the porch.

Broderick stopped in the middle of the black-and-white marble.

His eyes went from my face to our joined hands to the hem of my sweater.

"Well," he said.

"Dad."

"I came home early. A matter at the club." His voice was perfectly mild. "I didn't expect company."

"Nobody expected you," said Killian.

Delphine's gaze fell on my hand in his.

Her face went still, and then, for a second, naked.

She looked afraid.

I filed that away.

"Romy," Broderick said. "How nice. I thought you'd retired from the family."

"I came to see the piano."

"And you stayed to see it."

"Yes."

"I see." He set down the leather case. "Killian, a word in the study."

"No."

The hall seemed to hold its breath.

Broderick turned his head by a few degrees.

"I beg your pardon?"

"I said no." Killian's voice was low and steady, a voice I had never heard him use.

"If you want to say it, say it here," he said. "In front of her. In front of Delphine and the housekeeper and the driver."

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