29

Chapter 29

Madison appeared to have gotten her wish. She spent endless days in the cupola without seeing Tiernan, or much of anyone else, for that matter. A rotating cabal of maids brought her meals and restocked toiletries and towels as needed. Dr. Oritz came to see her once per week, and she quickly grew to hate the sight of him. He wasn’t a mean man, but he was just another reminder of Tiernan’s cruelty and lack of trust.

Other than when she saw the doctor, which always stirred her ire, she tried to dwell in an emotionless state. Madison focused on nothing, finding it easier to lie in bed and let a void of no thoughts fill her mind as the days progressed. She ate mechanically, but only for the baby, and often couldn’t finish the trays brought to her.

What did it matter? What did anything matter? For a time, she was hopeless and depressed, but as the days passed, she became numb. Even losing Tiernan didn’t hurt that much now. Nothing hurt, and she preferred it that way. It was bette