"Lordy, Miss Chrissi, how much ink did you swim in this morning?"
Elsie's voice rang out from the hallway just as Christina Hale stepped carefully out of her cloak, fingers still smudged faintly with ink. The scent of lavender starch trailed ahead as her maid entered carrying a basin, arms crossed and eyes narrowed fondly.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdhVXj6Eky
"I got most of it off," Christina replied with a smirk, flexing her fingers. "Besides, the column's booming. Dozens of letters this week. One poor bride wants to know if her horse should match her carriage ribbons."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJE92CrrSjt
Elsie snorted. "She better hope the horse can spell his vows."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25tgj3onu6
Christina laughed, the sound light as spun sugar.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSpf1H1VOR
Her silk skirts whispered as she glided down the grand staircase, her gown catching the golden light from the upper windows. The color—dusty periwinkle with a faint gold thread—made her feel like something from a painted portrait. She didn't mind.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTerdkhzQVx
Behind her, Elsie murmured, mostly to herself, "Just once, I'd like one of these grooms to come with a brain instead of boots."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMtUvsrbr7
Christina smiled but didn't turn back. The show was about to begin.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUmfvX9Oku
---
"Christina! Come meet our guest—he's interviewing us for that article. Something about colonial shipping."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn1eIthY41
"Oh, it's... a piece on rising shipping lane enterprises," Ethen offered, "for a regional journal. Highlighting Loyalist firms with expanding colonial reach."
Thomas's voice carried easily from the drawing room, warm with the kind of pride that disguised possession.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5gVMKKmst
She descended with care, skirts floating behind her like a sigh. A second voice—young, steady—murmured in reply. Unfamiliar.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmA4dT5Y0q
When she entered the tea room, it was already dressed for performance: gleaming porcelain, lemon curls in crystal, silver glinting on linen. The stranger stood as she entered.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZn1m061x9
"Miss Hale," he said with a respectful nod. "Ethan Tallmadge. My father runs a printshop in New Castle."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde60mlKDZz
"A man of ink." Christina returned the nod with practiced charm. "How fitting."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dJIN9lGTW
Thomas motioned to the teapot. "Christina's our family scandal. Father bought her a little print shop years ago—thought it'd be a phase. Nothing extravagant, but it kept her entertained."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEnZ2uib6u
"And profitable," she replied, easing into the chair across from Ethan. "The column—whoever writes it—has paid him back twice over so far."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZRbOJP9To
Thomas chuckled, slicing a lemon with theatrical care. "He splits the earnings. Half goes into a trust Christina can dip into for anything Father won't approve of. The other half's earmarked for her future husband. Keeps the ledger tidy."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP44LVQzGk8
Christina stirred her tea with precision. "Of course. I'll marry well. My dowry will ensure it. Father finds love impractical—like poetry in a warehouse ledger. But I'm still attractive enough to be useful." She looked to Ethan. "Isn't that the phrase?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsHZJPbCMC
He didn't flinch, but his fingers had stilled slightly on the rim of his cup.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXxgiVZKMO
She tilted her head. "Will we be seeing you at the ball this evening?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY6D1AF8xe
He met her gaze steadily. "No, I'm afraid not. I've business in Richmond—deliveries to make, contacts to meet. I leave before dawn."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoJM7jF9dW
Thomas gave a short laugh, standing to retrieve his coat. "Well, you'll miss quite the ball. Every notable family will be there. A few promising suitors for Christina, too. We must marry her off before she starts forming opinions."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTG5q3KduEP
Christina stood with him, gloves already tucked in hand. Her smile was nearly radiant.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fG8Y71pry
"Well, Mr. Tallmadge," she said, "may Richmond bring you something... enlightening."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRxPCdh40i
Ethan rose with them. "Next time I'm in Williamsburg, perhaps you'll show me your shop. Being a printer's son, I'd love to see what others are doing—especially if your anonymous column is that profitable. Might be something my family should invest in."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡER7JGhIcGx
Thomas smirked. "Careful. She'll have you printing heartbreak and hair ribbons in a week."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuOajdn7Ew
But Ethan's eyes stayed on hers. "Still profitable, though. And that's what matters."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ08G2cFMBj
Christina met his gaze with something more practiced than warmth. "Williamsburg," she said, looping her arm through her brother's, "has its own definition of value, Mr. Tallmadge."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUwIgOL0nl
And just like that, they swept from the room—Thomas full of ambition, Christina full of riddles, and Ethan with the distinct feeling that her ink could leave stains long after it dried.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDIMk9zTTa
And just like that, ink met match.
–––
The ballroom shimmered under the gentle glow of numerous candles. Music wafted from a string quartet tucked in the far corner, each note mingling with the subdued hum of refined conversation and laughter. Christina, her periwinkle gown and gold accents catching every stray beam of light, moved with poised deliberation across the polished floor, escorted by her ever-watchful brother, Thomas.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kQnFBjiKz
Before they reached the center of the room, a graceful figure in exquisite rose-hued satin appeared from the throng—a lady whose presence bespoke her status as one of the evening's hostesses. It was none other than the governor's wife, Mrs. Ashbury. With a warm smile and an assured nod, she gently steered Thomas aside for a brief private moment.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD34zaJIpW
"Thomas," Mrs. Ashbury murmured as they strolled a side corridor draped in velvet, "it is my pleasure to introduce Mr. Benedict Amherst. His name has sparked no small amount of admiration in our circles."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ577rOdDIrl
Her gaze slid meaningfully to Christina. "Do be a dear and present him to your sister."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLfUe4Eucn
Thomas's smile barely touched his eyes. "Miss Hale—Mr. Benedict Amherst. He hails from Norfolk, and has made rather a name for himself in maritime trade. A connection the Hale family would, I think, find... familiar."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Dj1WtMzrP
He gestured broadly, as if casting a net made of expectations.
Benedict stepped forward. Tall, with measured grace and eyes that carried a hint of quiet calculation, he bowed slightly. "Miss Hale, it is an honor. I've heard that your reputation extends beyond mere beauty—into realms of enterprise and letters. I trust our acquaintance tonight shall be most enlightening."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgTGSQeaBh
"Mr. Amherst, how flattering. One hopes that a woman's wit might occasionally rise to meet her reputation. In my experience, ink and ingenuity are often the most underestimated forms of capital."
Mrs. Ashbury interjected lightly, "Indeed, Miss Hale. And it is my hope that the finest qualities be brought together tonight." Her tone was both encouraging and commanding, a reminder that even in this world of grand orchestration, every meeting was carefully arranged.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQMofMQxCS
Thomas offered a small, satisfied smile as he took a step back, allowing the conversation to settle between Christina and Benedict. The ambient murmurs of the ballroom swirled around them. In that brief exchange, the seed of intrigue was sown—each word measured, each glance weighted with potential. Christina's eyes glinted with the unspoken challenge of a woman who was as much a puzzle as she was a promise, while Benedict's steady gaze showed that he, too, was captivated by the prospect of what may lie beneath the flawless surface.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeefAzfrBC
As the orchestra resumed a sweeping waltz, the trio moved together toward the dance floor—a deliberate and graceful progression into an evening where alliances were forged and reputations, like ink on fine paper, were destined to leave their mark.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iW2odJjxI
---
The waltz soared, its rhythm deliberate and delicate—exactly the kind that demanded practiced grace and a partner who understood tempo like a contract. Benedict led well, but not gently; his hold was firm, his gaze intent.
"So," he began smoothly, "your brother claims your little printshop is becoming quite the sensation."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpcRIyE92L
Christina's smile softened without sweetening. "Only among the ribbon-obsessed and the heartbroken. But yes—the column earns its keep."
"And your father allows this... enterprise?"
"He takes his half," she replied, voice light. "It was his gift to begin with. But the shop is mine, legally. The deed bears my name."
Benedict's steps didn't falter—but she felt something shift in the flex of his arm. "For now."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gskH4SyJt
She tilted her chin. "There's a clause in the marriage contract. The property and profits remain with me. Permanently."
A pause.
"Very forward-thinking," he said, evenly.
"I've always liked being ahead of the press run," she replied with a pleasant shrug.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGXZrW4gia
As the dance ended, a flushed young man with soft curls and nervous hands stepped forward, bowing with clear effort.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHMbqBUg5T
"Miss Hale," he stammered, "if you're not already—might I have the next dance?"
He was respectable, but modestly born. His collar was slightly wilted.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nKNlb1EYH
Before Christina could part her lips, Benedict stepped half a pace forward.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbhtEXM5kj
"She's otherwise engaged," he said, clipped and cool.
The young man blinked. "I—I didn't realize. My apologies."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnvdLctJZu
Benedict didn't answer. The boy turned, crestfallen, disappearing into the crowd.
Christina glanced up at her partner. "Was that necessary?"
His smile didn't reach his eyes. "He's beneath your station."
"I see," she said quietly.
She didn't say more, but her expression smoothed into something unreadable—beautiful, courteous, and distant as the moon behind lace.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrpg8RthbP
---89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKynBtrrBf
They moved to the punch table, where crystal bowls gleamed and laughter floated like perfume. The sting of citrus and crushed berries filled the air.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfp0JwWia6z
"Amherst," a voice called. "By God, I thought you'd ducked the candlelight."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzklaS61sU
A uniformed officer approached—braided epaulets, boots dusted faintly with travel. His face was lean, eyes sharp.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7wPRQVKab
"Winslow," Benedict greeted, clapping his shoulder. "Did they drag you out of the field with promises of cake and coquettes?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoIwkKTFGV
89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2hq6s6h8o
"I needed both," the lieutenant said with a half-smile. "But I came for news."
He lowered his voice, glancing at the gathered crowd. "Word is there's a Continental sympathizer operating here in Williamsburg. Not a soldier. Someone quiet. Possibly a woman."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9ADwsBrWI
Benedict scoffed. "A woman? Scribbling secrets between embroidery threads?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTaZlFwl7W
"They think she's using a local business," Winslow said. "Maybe a shop or press. Gossip as cover for messages. Clever work."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdUpcwbdvw
Christina widened her eyes with perfect concern.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgXUe17wmG
"Oh my," she said softly. "A woman doing all that thinking? I couldn't imagine being clever enough to scheme like that."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkZ5XNwvZJ
Winslow chuckled.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhahFnCFyLo
She turned her gaze to him, soft and silken. "I'm quite lucky, you know. Born into the right family. I'll find a charming husband, plan a luncheon or two, maybe name a spaniel after a virtue. That's the best kind of life, isn't it, Lieutenant?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYNILtHTVk
Winslow blinked—then smiled. "Yes, Miss Hale. Arguably the most dangerous kind."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGhu19DlXH
She laughed, lilting and warm. "Only if the punch is too sweet."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E1gQdLpSU
The men returned to their low murmurings. Christina took a slow sip and looked out across the crowd—memorizing names, faces, uniforms, and a single whispered port city she'd overheard.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmryVxSeBFJ
She smiled, and filed it away.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSGCcLiXee
---89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUS29nPSDN
The orchestra struck the opening notes of another waltz—slower this time, ceremonial. Benedict extended his hand with a stiff smile. "Shall we?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPJezgW5oA
Christina hesitated just long enough to make it a choice—then nodded. "Of course."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJChOqUkBq
They danced without words for the first half. His form was impeccable, his focus unwavering, yet she noticed it now—the way his jaw tensed when he wasn't speaking, the calculated grip of his hand at her back.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmlbZ6b2Xx
When the music faded, he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Miss Hale. I look forward to... future conversation."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3MRPvSVwC
"And I," she replied, with a smile that gave nothing away.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WiJ4xKZSo
As Benedict disappeared into the crowd, Thomas reappeared at her side, offering his arm.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjKtIquMsT
"Well?" he asked under his breath, all pleasantness dropped. "Was he attentive? Appropriately impressed? Considering a formal call?"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8pbYO9yVu
Christina didn't answer at first. Her fan hovered slightly above her corset.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZXMGQZ8d2
"He asked thoughtful questions. But not about me. Not really. About the shop. About my dowry. And when I corrected him on ownership, he didn't like it."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTitWpx4qk
Thomas sighed, already tired of nuance. "None of that matters."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj2xBvNiVT
She looked up at him sharply.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTVbqHVYUh
He added, "You're not marrying someone for their tolerance. You're marrying for the ledger. And he's right—those boys who stumble over their collars and ask for dances like favors? They're beneath you."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApqBUNu0MV
Christina's jaw tightened, but she kept walking.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBS0KaHYRV
Only when they reached the edge of the ballroom did she murmur, "I'd rather be underestimated by an honest man... than tolerated by one who wants to amend the terms."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVVa70PtXl
Thomas didn't reply.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1hval8nTd
He didn't have to.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp9bYdZpmW
---89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCcaGfWekp
As they reached the edge of the ballroom, Thomas adjusted his cuff and leaned in, his voice low and clipped.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ23Q7CYnc
"Well, you can dance with one of the other eligible bachelors," he said, scanning the crowd, "or we can go home for the night. Your call."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPY84sHPcN
Christina didn't hesitate.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJQElIVEqN
"Home," she said, already turning. "I've played the part tonight. I'd rather not repeat my lines."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQx5fm1w2r
Thomas raised a brow but said nothing more.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauM1AHVYsk
By the time the carriage pulled away from the glowing estate windows, she was staring out into the dark—counting how long before the hallway lamps would dim. Before the servants retired. Before the city drifted into quiet, and the only sound left in the world would be the turning of a press.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4mssIGm2C
---89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbPNe6lB1I
The Hale carriage rattled softly through the narrow brick streets, lanterns casting pale gold shadows against the velvet interior. The night had quieted, but tension settled thick between brother and sister.
Thomas exhaled through his nose and broke the silence.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVs6MZx29f6
"You know this is for your good, Christina."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcAJjrzeT7
She didn't look at him.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ND3fpbZ7F
"You don't want to end up an old maid," he continued. "Benedict Amherst is well connected, tasteful, wealthy—"89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG4KX4KHJZ
"Ambitious," she supplied, still watching the window.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEetKH4XnH
"You could do far worse. He's interested in you, and if you marry him, the Hale name will be set for decades."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gCvAO6Ms2
She turned then. Slowly. Calmly.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0PmeaHuo6
"No. You would be."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckNI3xQvkK
Thomas blinked.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWwQe88ZzL
Christina's voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXts8XzmLi
"I don't get a penny from the shipping side of Father's estate. When he dies, every ship, every ledger, every crate marked with Hale goes to you. Not me."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPWH8aYxzw
Her gloves were in her lap now, neatly folded.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQPvmDuJyw
"Who I marry elevates you. Every handshake, every investment—every child I produce will carry your legacy. Not mine."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyESRjAwIt
Thomas shifted uncomfortably, suddenly unsure of the upholstery.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTDTyvGaGl
"So," she said, still quiet, "the next time you parade me through a ballroom and call it charity, try saying thank you instead."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf64VEKr50b
He opened his mouth.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJyWxtmXb8
She didn't let him speak.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTzan2Nbfo
"You may be the next Sir Hale," she finished, folding her hands. "But it's who I marry that makes you more profitable. Not me."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaKk0O2MRp
The rest of the ride passed in silence.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziCXOG3Quj
And as they reached the glowing drive of the Hale estate, Christina smiled faintly.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSZJW9VkHP
"I'll do my part," she murmured, stepping down. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm a Hale, after all."89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINUBh3MMFE
---89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOxeAhePzP
The Hale estate slept.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lLMg4NFDT
Its windows dimmed one by one, shutters closed against the moonlight. The hallways hushed, the servants' footsteps stilled. Somewhere, a candelabra guttered into silence.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGnAG2xjvc
And Christina Hale slipped out the kitchen door with a ribbon-wrapped parcel and purpose in her step.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo7un3remI
Her slippers barely kissed the bricks as she moved—skirt hem pinned, curls tucked into the hood of a charcoal cloak. No jewelry. No paint. Just breath and silk and the weight of knowing.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EPC0A2WVz
The city was different at 3:18 a.m.—all soft echoes and old smells. Yeast and salt, the faint iron of the port. She let herself into the print shop with a key she'd had cut by a locksmith who once asked no questions.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bLVR91kYw
Inside, the air was cold but loyal. She didn't light every lamp. Just the one she needed. The press loomed in its corner like a silent sentinel, the plate waiting for her next breath.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EQuZxxrNI
She slipped the parcel onto the table and unwrapped it: a velvet-bound notebook, ribbon-tied ink, and the latest letters she'd collected.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZgYEWJSJt
But she had written this one herself, by candlelight in her room, waiting for the household to sleep. Should she print it? Should she throw it away? She didn't know what to do.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSBckSrDns
Dear Miss Ginny,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SqfR43pZQ
To whom it may concern—
Somewhere in the shops or homes of our quiet Williamsburg—our city we like to think is far from the world's turning—a name is being whispered. A possible spy against the English crown.
I do not know who they are. But loyalist households are murmuring, and the circle is tightening.
Could you imagine? Betraying your country in such a way? What would you do, Miss Ginny? What should someone do, if they suspect something?
— A Concerned Citizen
She took a clean sheet. Dipped the quill.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRvEJSiI9h
To whom it may concern,89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGcb2wLPw8
If your information is correct, then the war is far closer than many of us would like to believe. And if that is the case—it could be anyone. Anywhere. A shopkeeper. A scholar. A guest at the last ball.
My advice to you is this: stay vigilant. Be careful where you go. Be careful who you're with.
What is whispered in a safe room today may echo loudly in a courtroom tomorrow.
— Your friend,
Ginny
She stared down at the typeset reply signed Your friend, Ginny, the press oiled and ready to run.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyDeniW2p5
But her fingers didn't move.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThTY9e29vJ
What you're about to do, she thought, they'd call treason.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1Oo1E1CsT
Thomas. Father. Every guest in that ballroom. Every man who clapped Benedict Amherst on the back. To them, this wasn't journalism. It wasn't morality. It was betrayal.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI4wP6DncY
And she was a Hale.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZzrZG3OTZ
She pressed her palm flat against the pressplate, feeling the cool metal bite against her skin. She thought of the family crest above the study door. Of her father's voice, crisp and tired: We don't trade in whispers, Christina. We trade in goods. In loyalty.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM3dU7FQkd
But what if this was loyalty? Not to a crown. Not to a name.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XLzcOTpAN
To a life. To a girl she'd never met. To someone being hunted for secrets—and the silence that would let it happen.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnEEV8V2Ps
What if someone's daughter was about to die because everyone else stayed quiet?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbowAthTlOI
Her hand moved.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNOp8uf0Mj
She slid the two sheets into the stack.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBZRdGmXEw
And just before pulling the impression lever, she whispered aloud, as if the press might understand:89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDgq3HmUGK
"This isn't disloyalty. This is witnessing."
---
She returned just before dawn.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDaGDvbJJ7
The Hale estate was still and shadowed, the windows dulled with morning fog. No one stirred as she slipped inside. Her slippers were damp, the hem of her cloak scented with ash and ink.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltRnHmyZHh
Upstairs, her room was unchanged—lace curtains, soft woolen quilt, a porcelain brush untouched since dusk.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTL7J1X1jl
She washed her hands in a basin too cold to calm her.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9xfkStKfj
The ink didn't fully lift.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJnaIwuxlN
She crawled into bed with her gloves tucked beneath the pillow and her fingers still stained, heart still echoing with the sound of type striking plate. It should have felt like safety.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjf0A1gfDs
Instead, it felt like waiting.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhXzINOk4r
What if they find the column? What if someone sees beneath the name "Ginny"?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7VxWgYrDu
She turned onto her side, tucking the blankets around her ribs. Her throat ached. Her breath wouldn't settle.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hbex7pbzS
She loved her family.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIvjHzNYtK
But she had done the right thing.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz8cs3SgQX
Hadn't she?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaDZ75hkpe
She closed her eyes, but the question curled into the dark with her, quiet and sharp as ink on the inside of a glove.89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUJkRTqRaw
Who are you becoming, Christina Hale?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYVi4WMUzr
And deeper still—89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcISKMM2Pi
Can you ever become someone else... and still be a Hale at all?89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mZobt3j2f
