"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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLRPqTkpMZ
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcO9htEb3g3
Elsie snorted. "She better hope the horse can spell his vows."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ837PmjYiVc
Christina laughed, the sound light as spun sugar.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbxTtqNMjB
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnA98At3JU
Behind her, Elsie murmured, mostly to herself, "Just once, I'd like one of these grooms to come with a brain instead of boots."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3EpEhQMAP
Christina smiled but didn't turn back. The show was about to begin.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wbZdr8NL0
---
"Christina! Come meet our guest—he's interviewing us for that article. Something about colonial shipping."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtypfQGKNaq
"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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7vaqhoqkB
She descended with care, skirts floating behind her like a sigh. A second voice—young, steady—murmured in reply. Unfamiliar.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHzmw2UZqs
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuF2GbEiXB
"Miss Hale," he said with a respectful nod. "Ethan Tallmadge. My father runs a printshop in New Castle."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6Lvh5tPdz
"A man of ink." Christina returned the nod with practiced charm. "How fitting."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfPInqN4fg
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu49aEVbsH
"And profitable," she replied, easing into the chair across from Ethan. "The column—whoever writes it—has paid him back twice over so far."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupdGExojjO
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxUPIA2oG8
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?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xbPyNV9vK
He didn't flinch, but his fingers had stilled slightly on the rim of his cup.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtv4DmIC6U
She tilted her head. "Will we be seeing you at the ball this evening?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsLux5LRDI
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIVxXM53PF
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmc4Bfu5PRF
Christina stood with him, gloves already tucked in hand. Her smile was nearly radiant.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3g9D8vKmO
"Well, Mr. Tallmadge," she said, "may Richmond bring you something... enlightening."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BhXtL5YR8
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2YnPaEWQH
Thomas smirked. "Careful. She'll have you printing heartbreak and hair ribbons in a week."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1tcgwOU0S
But Ethan's eyes stayed on hers. "Still profitable, though. And that's what matters."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2aXPRRqMX
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKCLdJYwrv
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcE7V1kcOb
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPZZAgnkOd
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4hZTAAVVT
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNKcOnH4MG
Her gaze slid meaningfully to Christina. "Do be a dear and present him to your sister."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WbvlCi3sS
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE03uTHQtu
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzXD6GwwGC
"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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiZqtSAwLk
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrgaswOoOZq
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIUO7iQMnN
---
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZywxMp7dq
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPUhNWBZYe
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhCpjiwoPe
As the dance ended, a flushed young man with soft curls and nervous hands stepped forward, bowing with clear effort.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2moZPwSG9
"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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83PBKhBYGs
Before Christina could part her lips, Benedict stepped half a pace forward.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyRMFL03bC
"She's otherwise engaged," he said, clipped and cool.
The young man blinked. "I—I didn't realize. My apologies."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWajckJlj9W
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RSXE624S7
---11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryQrPKOJqb
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhYqGuhOZi
"Amherst," a voice called. "By God, I thought you'd ducked the candlelight."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8NBFJvdR3
A uniformed officer approached—braided epaulets, boots dusted faintly with travel. His face was lean, eyes sharp.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4vLmIK9jy
"Winslow," Benedict greeted, clapping his shoulder. "Did they drag you out of the field with promises of cake and coquettes?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6UBtJQYDh
11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5l4FFbmBI
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx0cMzcRmx
Benedict scoffed. "A woman? Scribbling secrets between embroidery threads?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOonuvWkyN0
"They think she's using a local business," Winslow said. "Maybe a shop or press. Gossip as cover for messages. Clever work."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjchxSMQIK0
Christina widened her eyes with perfect concern.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38HZmaa8In
"Oh my," she said softly. "A woman doing all that thinking? I couldn't imagine being clever enough to scheme like that."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIrZiMndH5
Winslow chuckled.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf62vJBfnv
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?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAgtGOPPOs
Winslow blinked—then smiled. "Yes, Miss Hale. Arguably the most dangerous kind."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4T17el7172
She laughed, lilting and warm. "Only if the punch is too sweet."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9xDSfPTky
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLprjQiZrr
She smiled, and filed it away.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiS6DTKmGA
---11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxEeE4eZmQ
The orchestra struck the opening notes of another waltz—slower this time, ceremonial. Benedict extended his hand with a stiff smile. "Shall we?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZp2eyS24dV
Christina hesitated just long enough to make it a choice—then nodded. "Of course."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7eBzUohsg
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhBloN74b9
When the music faded, he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Miss Hale. I look forward to... future conversation."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE0JOUjSHA
"And I," she replied, with a smile that gave nothing away.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZYhxJk1e0
As Benedict disappeared into the crowd, Thomas reappeared at her side, offering his arm.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JGuhfppSO
"Well?" he asked under his breath, all pleasantness dropped. "Was he attentive? Appropriately impressed? Considering a formal call?"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sGW9W98H7
Christina didn't answer at first. Her fan hovered slightly above her corset.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZurGvrQo1P
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCzEQiQAc1
Thomas sighed, already tired of nuance. "None of that matters."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZk9kZOit47
She looked up at him sharply.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF52YnZuK7
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjieQcuFDh
Christina's jaw tightened, but she kept walking.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVYpKmMwiA
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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZr6XRuxEL
Thomas didn't reply.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oOTgaT6Gg
He didn't have to.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qUCjTAC1w
---11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1zwIoZZyZ
As they reached the edge of the ballroom, Thomas adjusted his cuff and leaned in, his voice low and clipped.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPre0yvzIP
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A1c7ZWnTw
Christina didn't hesitate.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnpsPB9AIQ
"Home," she said, already turning. "I've played the part tonight. I'd rather not repeat my lines."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14SJYha2Kd
Thomas raised a brow but said nothing more.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHkH10MUue
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIypHTEOlJE
---11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGDE4ZWqJb
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjm3MWq9ZP
"You know this is for your good, Christina."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeAXirsk86
She didn't look at him.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvSdrRCc6r
"You don't want to end up an old maid," he continued. "Benedict Amherst is well connected, tasteful, wealthy—"11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X1dB6V3f1
"Ambitious," she supplied, still watching the window.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a5Ayea348
"You could do far worse. He's interested in you, and if you marry him, the Hale name will be set for decades."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3kydYRUa8
She turned then. Slowly. Calmly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBKTIOT3ds
"No. You would be."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwDLSaB4JJ
Thomas blinked.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM2kcH18Lg
Christina's voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JgUsvrp4Z
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLzLdfouJE
Her gloves were in her lap now, neatly folded.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVI0DgqWzM
"Who I marry elevates you. Every handshake, every investment—every child I produce will carry your legacy. Not mine."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUZXG9liWN
Thomas shifted uncomfortably, suddenly unsure of the upholstery.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IGsiBavek
"So," she said, still quiet, "the next time you parade me through a ballroom and call it charity, try saying thank you instead."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GXVviEt1O
He opened his mouth.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy0Q3AL776
She didn't let him speak.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz3QTVgBGu
"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."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop8Zs8CUDb
The rest of the ride passed in silence.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpT634czvb
And as they reached the glowing drive of the Hale estate, Christina smiled faintly.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHX21Wvcbd
"I'll do my part," she murmured, stepping down. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm a Hale, after all."11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaz5vt5uV5
---11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2ea5VKb5g
The Hale estate slept.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gD8Lc1tbS
Its windows dimmed one by one, shutters closed against the moonlight. The hallways hushed, the servants' footsteps stilled. Somewhere, a candelabra guttered into silence.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5va1Ei53R
And Christina Hale slipped out the kitchen door with a ribbon-wrapped parcel and purpose in her step.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqJpWSUSrt
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWyThScWcX
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKvwjSjLW8
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyC1etQlPF
She slipped the parcel onto the table and unwrapped it: a velvet-bound notebook, ribbon-tied ink, and the latest letters she'd collected.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXGn9VYblp
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkucIrTdavq
Dear Miss Ginny,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcbd2eZ8ZV
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBqks85Jem
To whom it may concern,11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtghKxQ8rg
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz43zjCq8nK
But her fingers didn't move.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBKFkCVs30
What you're about to do, she thought, they'd call treason.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcG80cEqjtU
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsQsIG6XMF
And she was a Hale.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumRWy7UXrV
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHhGl7aHZr
But what if this was loyalty? Not to a crown. Not to a name.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5ENl40Qs9
To a life. To a girl she'd never met. To someone being hunted for secrets—and the silence that would let it happen.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcljZeS3R1w
What if someone's daughter was about to die because everyone else stayed quiet?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTvUQvQkBl
Her hand moved.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1sA64klUn
She slid the two sheets into the stack.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFm10bh6L3
And just before pulling the impression lever, she whispered aloud, as if the press might understand:11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSzYjevtd0
"This isn't disloyalty. This is witnessing."
---
She returned just before dawn.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0lR8K5gRC
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfJLp9BsVn
Upstairs, her room was unchanged—lace curtains, soft woolen quilt, a porcelain brush untouched since dusk.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eMtyttzlq
She washed her hands in a basin too cold to calm her.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGd4aAco2t
The ink didn't fully lift.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXqdX5lTzZ
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.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL8jDzf7FC
Instead, it felt like waiting.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyjDKH0Gy5
What if they find the column? What if someone sees beneath the name "Ginny"?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSW003DcsC
She turned onto her side, tucking the blankets around her ribs. Her throat ached. Her breath wouldn't settle.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQvDcMStcT
She loved her family.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfW8GvcQm94
But she had done the right thing.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NfGGBw7N5
Hadn't she?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBirN5byHz
She closed her eyes, but the question curled into the dark with her, quiet and sharp as ink on the inside of a glove.11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfh48yyUdW9
Who are you becoming, Christina Hale?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OsBBoQD8R
And deeper still—11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4jXGD63hl
Can you ever become someone else... and still be a Hale at all?11Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWfx4tyfg4
