Delaney stood in the quiet hallway of Hamilton House. She stared at the closed doors of the drawing room. Her heart was beating very fast against her ribs. For twenty long years, she had believed she was entirely alone in the world. Now, her mother's sister was sitting just on the other side of that door.
Delaney took a deep, steadying breath. She reached out her hand, turned the brass handle, and pushed the door open.
Delaney walked into the drawing room. The bright morning sun was streaming through the tall glass windows, highlighting the floating dust in the air.
Sitting on the edge of a soft, velvet sofa was a woman in a dark traveling dress. When the woman heard the click of the door, she immediately stood up.
Delaney stopped walking. She looked at the woman's face.
