She lifted her chin.
“I’m taking them.”
Her father’s eyes narrowed.
Then something unexpected happened.
He looked afraid.
Not angry.
Afraid.
“What did you find?”
Rosalie said nothing.
Her father stepped forward.
“Rosalie.”
She moved toward the doorway.
His hand caught her sleeve.
Gideon reacted immediately, but Rosalie raised her palm.
She could handle this.
She gently removed her father’s hand.
“Why did Mother investigate Dr. Bell?”
Color drained from his face.
That was answer enough.
“You knew.”
“No.”
“You knew something.”
“Your mother filled her head with nonsense.”
“Her own head?”
Her father looked away.
Rosalie’s voice softened.
“What happened in 1871?”
He said nothing.
Gideon watched carefully.
Then Rosalie asked the question that changed everything.
“Why did you sell me to Gideon?”
Her father laughed bitterly.
