Chapters (59)
- Cover
- About the Author
- Praise
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- January
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- February
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- March
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- April
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- May
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- June
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- July
- Forty-One
- Epilogue
- Acknowledgments
- Author’s Note
- Ladies of the House - Reader’s Guide
- Questions For Discussion
- Excerpt
If I were honest, after what had happened at La Vic, being at an event like this, even with people we’d once called friends, made me want to sink below everyone’s eye level, army crawling if I had to, and give Atlas a resounding no.
“If something is on your mind, tell me,” he said. Behind him was the bright expanse of our city at night. Removed from the traffic and the pavement, I could take the time to appreciate its beauty and grandeur.
“I’m fine,” I said, shifting away. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s something.” He was nearer now and looking ready to demand answers. “I’m not scared of you or your feelings, Daisy. I can handle it.”
“Yes, okay, fine, I am worried about you writing about Gregory.”
“Getting closer.”
If I reached out, I could grab his jacket. All evening I’d been so keen to run the fabric between my fingers, to feel the skin underneath. He cared, that much was true. But would readers? I wasn’t convinced. “You can’t possibly argue that people would be interested in what I have to say.”
His expression was one of disbelief. “Absolute rubbish.”
“No, Atlas.” My vehemence startled both of us. “Look at me. I’m the daughter of a liar and a thief. For years I stood by his side, working and living with him, and I didn’t see it. People will say I’m not worthy of consideration. And they’d be absolutely right.”
“Daisy,” he said, relaxing into a relieved smile. “This is an easy one.” He took my face between his hands. “You’re more than worthy of consideration.”
I felt such love for him then, I almost staggered under the weight of it. All the promises and bargains I’d made with myself crumbled at my feet.
I moved toward him and put my lips to his. It had been so long since I’d kissed someone; I let my fingers drift into his hair, feeling acutely the pressure and warmth of his mouth. My kiss wasn’t teasing, or coy, it wasn’t even particularly skillful, but it was honest. So, when I removed my lips from his, I was hoping for something other than the incredulity in his eyes. His gaze focused, and it was then I noticed his arms were not around me, but on my shoulders, as a coach might give a player a pep talk.