Chapter 2 - Clara Finally Says Nora’s Age
“Three years and eight months.”
The words barely left my mouth.
Adrian looked at Nora again.
James had died three years and eleven months earlier.
Nobody in the room needed a calculator.
Mrs. Holloway quietly told the staff to leave.
Adrian’s guards remained.
“Out,” he said.
Even they hesitated.
Then the room emptied until only Adrian, Nora, and I remained.
Nora tugged his sleeve.
“Are you mad?”
His face changed instantly.
“No, sweetheart.”
“At Mommy?”
He looked at me.
“I don’t know yet.”
That honesty frightened me more than anger.
I crouched beside Nora.
“Go find Mrs. Holloway.”
“But my watch.”
Adrian held it out.
Nora shook her head.
“It’s yours.”
He stopped breathing for a second.
“Why?”
“Because Daddy’s gone.”
Then she ran toward the hall.
When she disappeared, Adrian turned the lock on the breakfast-room door.
“You have thirty seconds before I start asking questions you will not
enjoy.”
I stared at him.
“James was Nora’s father.”
His jaw tightened.
“Did he know?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“Did he tell you to hide her from me?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
That answer hurt him.
I saw it.
May you like
Then Adrian asked the question I had feared for four years.
“Why was my brother afraid of me?”
