"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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH7ivl72z3
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNs0vUizMch
Elsie snorted. "She better hope the horse can spell his vows."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9hdRlvAG5
Christina laughed, the sound light as spun sugar.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyUhF65BeY
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P2zfDfzoJ
Behind her, Elsie murmured, mostly to herself, "Just once, I'd like one of these grooms to come with a brain instead of boots."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpJuR1Ho9G
Christina smiled but didn't turn back. The show was about to begin.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs9RcajG1X
---
"Christina! Come meet our guest—he's interviewing us for that article. Something about colonial shipping."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW1oBFekJp
"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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q2qAdiwhK
She descended with care, skirts floating behind her like a sigh. A second voice—young, steady—murmured in reply. Unfamiliar.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ouNDh5Tbc
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLMkeWqpnq
"Miss Hale," he said with a respectful nod. "Ethan Tallmadge. My father runs a printshop in New Castle."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMAf5r2j6R
"A man of ink." Christina returned the nod with practiced charm. "How fitting."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjZ4uXb0il
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtBSlTBWun
"And profitable," she replied, easing into the chair across from Ethan. "The column—whoever writes it—has paid him back twice over so far."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5VlmKtRrn
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08SnrXUtrr
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?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW76DAMWY4g
He didn't flinch, but his fingers had stilled slightly on the rim of his cup.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpxHkIs76d
She tilted her head. "Will we be seeing you at the ball this evening?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvWkTpcs1x
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrtgxv3Uga
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqViH2otU64
Christina stood with him, gloves already tucked in hand. Her smile was nearly radiant.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcxcZ3VQXj
"Well, Mr. Tallmadge," she said, "may Richmond bring you something... enlightening."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tzr2v6QuN
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4yynLLpr3
Thomas smirked. "Careful. She'll have you printing heartbreak and hair ribbons in a week."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMza0c7fil
But Ethan's eyes stayed on hers. "Still profitable, though. And that's what matters."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKIoDCKatf
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRHOWdMc5P
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFcw5AVmai
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMulpPxdDyR
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCtJvUm0SX
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS22g8beEs
Her gaze slid meaningfully to Christina. "Do be a dear and present him to your sister."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFajK9qpSJY
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4xaVIc1xA
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHcC4JAman
"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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDd9l0aXkh
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNo6TGe5ap
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGRo5518WA
---
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FZEzKguV9
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetElfVa4iw
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOcu4wDbb3
As the dance ended, a flushed young man with soft curls and nervous hands stepped forward, bowing with clear effort.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4UQDEIG5F
"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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVRbZjjZRW
Before Christina could part her lips, Benedict stepped half a pace forward.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT042fTLCL5
"She's otherwise engaged," he said, clipped and cool.
The young man blinked. "I—I didn't realize. My apologies."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM3hHXnV3K
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS60fMRVzwE
---41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81JPZZUnTD
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ25uD7roya
"Amherst," a voice called. "By God, I thought you'd ducked the candlelight."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKlCJKu8gd
A uniformed officer approached—braided epaulets, boots dusted faintly with travel. His face was lean, eyes sharp.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Eu8NZ4val
"Winslow," Benedict greeted, clapping his shoulder. "Did they drag you out of the field with promises of cake and coquettes?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWcCn7FptE
41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ7AzLN5jE
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaUPs64fQp
Benedict scoffed. "A woman? Scribbling secrets between embroidery threads?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sKuTWM0Qb
"They think she's using a local business," Winslow said. "Maybe a shop or press. Gossip as cover for messages. Clever work."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSBNOwB99W
Christina widened her eyes with perfect concern.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQd0X9voeq7
"Oh my," she said softly. "A woman doing all that thinking? I couldn't imagine being clever enough to scheme like that."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuXxUxgA4i
Winslow chuckled.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBBxeletFi
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?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffTp0rGg12
Winslow blinked—then smiled. "Yes, Miss Hale. Arguably the most dangerous kind."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDap9GxfxMi
She laughed, lilting and warm. "Only if the punch is too sweet."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5GkBo52u1
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAPn64r0Hb
She smiled, and filed it away.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7jVRR2kQB
---41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZZHlKkgok
The orchestra struck the opening notes of another waltz—slower this time, ceremonial. Benedict extended his hand with a stiff smile. "Shall we?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZveWfUWnla
Christina hesitated just long enough to make it a choice—then nodded. "Of course."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr9ivh8fBP
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFU7XInzYQ
When the music faded, he bowed deeply. "Thank you, Miss Hale. I look forward to... future conversation."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcOETft4IB
"And I," she replied, with a smile that gave nothing away.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYt9fP7Aam
As Benedict disappeared into the crowd, Thomas reappeared at her side, offering his arm.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJnfDWwwSO
"Well?" he asked under his breath, all pleasantness dropped. "Was he attentive? Appropriately impressed? Considering a formal call?"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6booAGtcv
Christina didn't answer at first. Her fan hovered slightly above her corset.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdFf1l5hz3
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb4OWSccYx
Thomas sighed, already tired of nuance. "None of that matters."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkz7tnFIAeR
She looked up at him sharply.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVSErVsLm6
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcEelFr6hk
Christina's jaw tightened, but she kept walking.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYviClHOmeg
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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOJLHg8t4H
Thomas didn't reply.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTi9dNyQCf
He didn't have to.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZnCbi0MJg
---41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpabFYvDbA
As they reached the edge of the ballroom, Thomas adjusted his cuff and leaned in, his voice low and clipped.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1vaWL8Mlo
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEtilMO8wD
Christina didn't hesitate.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1kwG0l1u2
"Home," she said, already turning. "I've played the part tonight. I'd rather not repeat my lines."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry0CsX7U4i
Thomas raised a brow but said nothing more.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9SLqA3r62
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BvrjrSTIh
---41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEky9KSHWx
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIovEbpjE0E
"You know this is for your good, Christina."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF91LGFL2Ig
She didn't look at him.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzeqoabT9P
"You don't want to end up an old maid," he continued. "Benedict Amherst is well connected, tasteful, wealthy—"41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVGBftKue9
"Ambitious," she supplied, still watching the window.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaIvhL9rwS
"You could do far worse. He's interested in you, and if you marry him, the Hale name will be set for decades."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWS9l4kA5D
She turned then. Slowly. Calmly.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcZwRGb7KM
"No. You would be."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlSXAeHmC7
Thomas blinked.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsJDU7R8yC
Christina's voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf6yNJ9YXl
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UwFp0UvNj
Her gloves were in her lap now, neatly folded.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvK5HN1w0j
"Who I marry elevates you. Every handshake, every investment—every child I produce will carry your legacy. Not mine."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CCrCVAMSj
Thomas shifted uncomfortably, suddenly unsure of the upholstery.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85L1tH05ne
"So," she said, still quiet, "the next time you parade me through a ballroom and call it charity, try saying thank you instead."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLi9f0o7sS
He opened his mouth.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuWpne2mrf
She didn't let him speak.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3F6KVem0D
"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."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiyYFchkBk
The rest of the ride passed in silence.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbQ2d2mcs1
And as they reached the glowing drive of the Hale estate, Christina smiled faintly.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtcrb2EUgv
"I'll do my part," she murmured, stepping down. "You don't have to worry about that. I'm a Hale, after all."41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzRNpC5UKk
---41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6iPl8tVcf
The Hale estate slept.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5uBEjT8gf
Its windows dimmed one by one, shutters closed against the moonlight. The hallways hushed, the servants' footsteps stilled. Somewhere, a candelabra guttered into silence.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MEAOkfqjC
And Christina Hale slipped out the kitchen door with a ribbon-wrapped parcel and purpose in her step.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3OwmZJvNY
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6yFBSAbb7
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnaaHeIlf6
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgJFH42hrt
She slipped the parcel onto the table and unwrapped it: a velvet-bound notebook, ribbon-tied ink, and the latest letters she'd collected.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfi90AHHVO
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOqF5MV7bW
Dear Miss Ginny,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kc7NaJ5rM
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotlV8CMLoz
To whom it may concern,41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbjhJH2lHR
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNfx1fs713
But her fingers didn't move.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHHHHwDvVF
What you're about to do, she thought, they'd call treason.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2pzJfAX2Z
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAPijHasFZ
And she was a Hale.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡke6jCrjaCq
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4TdKvabDV
But what if this was loyalty? Not to a crown. Not to a name.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogaUcOhA1M
To a life. To a girl she'd never met. To someone being hunted for secrets—and the silence that would let it happen.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHCKrsCw1I
What if someone's daughter was about to die because everyone else stayed quiet?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDF7bmiomD
Her hand moved.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9acAE8Z9W2
She slid the two sheets into the stack.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8avgfXPW9
And just before pulling the impression lever, she whispered aloud, as if the press might understand:41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMyczafF0U
"This isn't disloyalty. This is witnessing."
---
She returned just before dawn.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc11t2kBN06
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1fU0CmJBD
Upstairs, her room was unchanged—lace curtains, soft woolen quilt, a porcelain brush untouched since dusk.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ551M95BHAv
She washed her hands in a basin too cold to calm her.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf7YfXL0Wi
The ink didn't fully lift.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyM1SmpsEh
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.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS0xMRrfcG
Instead, it felt like waiting.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGHJxPD5B0
What if they find the column? What if someone sees beneath the name "Ginny"?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH13fPB0kH6
She turned onto her side, tucking the blankets around her ribs. Her throat ached. Her breath wouldn't settle.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWncRkhpHW
She loved her family.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIDdb7ET5m
But she had done the right thing.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1rSH2aBIN
Hadn't she?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2BZ7wQr8Q
She closed her eyes, but the question curled into the dark with her, quiet and sharp as ink on the inside of a glove.41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCot5Zi13A
Who are you becoming, Christina Hale?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JF5DxqyBH
And deeper still—41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDgIOghigi
Can you ever become someone else... and still be a Hale at all?41Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKFfLRnZHB
and then Add to home screen.