Chapter 2
Arthur had been recording for six weeks.
Not constantly.
Only when something felt wrong.
The first clip showed Lucille removing Daisy’s chair from breakfast.
“Children eat after adults when guests are present.”
The second showed Gideon taking Daisy’s framed photograph from the main staircase.
“Lucille needs the family wall clean before the engagement portraits arrive.”
The third was worse.
Daisy standing outside my study.
Lucille kneeling in front of her.
“If you make Daddy choose between you and me, you won’t like his answer.”
Daisy’s little face in the video stayed perfectly still.
Children sometimes freeze before they cry.
I had seen that expression tonight.
I looked at Lucille.
“You told my daughter I would choose you over her.”
“I was trying to stop her from sabotaging us.”
“She’s four.”
“She knows exactly how to get your attention.”
There.
Not apology.
Competition.
I turned toward Arthur.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
His face tightened.
“My fault, sir.”
“No. Answer.”
He had tried.
Three times.
Messages sent through my personal assistant.
Each time the matter was categorized as household friction.
My assistant, Daniel, assumed a future wife reorganizing domestic routines was normal.
Arthur then went directly to Gideon.
Mistake.
Gideon told him Lucille had my full approval.
Another borrowed voice.
Eventually Arthur stopped trusting the chain around me and began collecting proof instead.
I looked around the ballroom.
Powerful man.
Hundreds of employees.
Security everywhere.
And my butler had needed a smartphone because too many people believed access to me could be filtered by whoever stood closest.
That failure was mine.
Then Arthur said:
“There’s one recording I haven’t watched all the way through.”
“Why?”
“Because Miss Daisy is in it.”
My stomach tightened.
He handed me the phone.
Video began.
Lucille.
Gideon.
The nursery.
Daisy asleep.
And Lucille saying:
“Once Maximilien signs the guardianship adjustment after the wedding, we won’t have to keep pretending she stays here.”
The room disappeared.
I looked at Gideon.
“What guardianship adjustment?”
He went pale.
May you like
Good.
Another secret.
