It was a recording, from Lucius’s own office.

On it, Lucius sat beside his chief accountant, relaxed, certain no one would ever hear him. Isadora never actually reads the documents I give her, the recorded voice said. Tell her the papers are about the house.

She’ll sign them. And then the accountant’s voice: What if she asks questions? And Lucius, easy as anything: She won’t.

She trusts me.

The real Lucius went completely still.

Isadora watched the recording without moving a muscle, and later she would say that the dishonesty was not the part that wounded her.