I came back to the house as the sky turned the color of tin. The lights in the hall made the walls look clean and cold. The servants were quiet in a way that told me the day had been full of whispers. I walked past bowls of polished lemons and past flowers I had not asked for. My suitcase stood in the servants' room with the handle up, ready to go. I took it and rolled it across the tiles toward the front door.
Footsteps followed me. I did not have to turn to know who it was. Alpha Jones moved like he was trying not to make sound, but the room adjusted to him anyway. He stopped between me and the door, one hand on the frame, his jaw tight.
“Where have you been?" he asked. “No one could find you. I sent three patrols. Why didn't you answer your phone?"
“I was looking for a place to live,
