Theodore and I never had a wedding.
Two marginal figures, neither valued by our families, both new to Manhattan with no close friends to speak of—even if we'd held a ceremony, there was no one we could have invited. We quietly registered at the city hall, and I moved straight into Theodore's place.
On my first day there, Theodore led me into his study.
His voice was steady, carrying none of the warmth one might expect from a new husband—more like he was speaking to a business partner. "The staff in this house has eyes and ears from all sides. Now that you're here, you'll be in charge of hiring and managing them. Replace or dismiss as you see fit. No need to consult me."
I nodded, equally matter-of-fact. "Fine. Within three days, this entire household will be filled with our people."
T
