Butterfly Palace Read Online Free PDF Page A

her, and Emily stepped into the room. “You’re still up! I expected you to have found your rest by now.” She shut the door. “Still no lock on this door, though I’ve asked five times. Ever since that wretched murderer started attacking women.”
    Lily glanced out at the dark and shuddered. She wouldn’t sleep a wink. She stared at Emily. There had been no time to take the measure of her roommate when Lily first arrived. The other woman was tall, a good head taller than Lily. Her light brown hair was clean and glossy, and her clothing fit well. She took pride in her appearance. And Lily liked Emily’s clear gaze and friendly smile. Perhaps they could be real friends. She needed a companion.
    Emily frowned as she took in Lily’s expression. “Aw, it’s your first night, love. You’ll get used to it. The Marshalls aren’t so bad.”
    When Emily touched Lily’s arm, she flinched and swallowed hard. Her eyes burned with the endeavor to hold back the tears. “So many people. Such lavish clothes and all. I hardly knew what to say to the guests.”
    “You’re about to cry. I know you’re feeling all alone, but we’ll be friends.”
    At the woman’s kind words, Lily lost the battle. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she gulped. “Of course that’s all it is.Homesickness. I’m not used to the city. It’s noisy here,” she added when men guffawed again from the tavern. “And thank you for the note.”
    “What note?”
    Lily picked it up off the bed. “Didn’t you put this on my nightgown?”
    Emily stared at it and shook her head. “Probably one of the kitchen maids.” She patted Lily’s shoulder. “Things will look brighter in the morning.” She took off her hat and apron, then hung them on a hook by the door. “You’re a small-town girl, just like I was. You’ll get used to it. I heard you nearly got squashed at the ball.”
    Lily nodded as she sank onto the edge of the bed. The sheets and quilt smelled clean and fresh. “Mr. H-Hawkes fell on me.”
    Emily winked. “I wouldn’t mind having him fall on me. All the girls want to bring him his breakfast when he’s staying here.”
    “I-Is he staying here now?” The thought of running into Andy in the hall made her quail. She had to be careful to keep her distance from him at all times.
    “He’ll be here for the next month. He’s in the west wing. I get to take his breakfast to him tomorrow.”
    “How long have you known him?”
    Emily disrobed and pulled on a long cotton nightgown. “I wouldn’t say any of us know him. He is a business partner of Mr. Marshall’s, and he’s much too upper crust for the likes of me. But he’s a lovely man for sure. Always kind and polite.”
    “You said he’s a business partner of Mr. Marshall’s? What does he do?”
    “He handles investments. Mr. Marshall says Drew has made him a wealthy man.”
    Drew . Lily tried to wrap her head around the different nickname. And Hawkes, not Hawkins. Why wasn’t he using his realname? Because people might figure out he was a ranch hand from Larson, Texas? He’d always had an aptitude for mathematics, and it didn’t surprise her he’d found his fortune that way.
    “He’s a little mysterious though,” Emily said, plaiting her hair.
    Lily’s pulse sped up. “Mysterious?”
    “He never mentions his family. I tried to find out where he’s from, and he just said he’s a Texan like everyone else.” Emily frowned. “His accent is Texan, so maybe I’m making too much of it.” Her expression cleared and she smiled at Lily. “What did he say when he helped you up?”
    What had he said? Lily couldn’t remember. She’d been lost in his dark brown eyes. Eyes she’d begged God to let her see again. Now here he was, and she was wishing she’d never dared ask for anything so presumptuous. It would be better not to know why he’d deserted her. Better to pretend his love had never failed.
    Emily touched her arm. “You have a funny expression. Are you in