Read Second Thoughts for Free Online Page A

the headmaster and other prominent Academy personalities in the group. I knew she was genuine, but after years of experience, she also knew how to spin her flattery in the perfect moments. “You’ll note the many openings throughout the form where additional birds can be placed. I’ve already discussed a project with the Academy’s art department so that student-artists can collaborate on a new bird each year to commemorate the graduating class…”
    I drifted away at that point to mingle. I thought the last part my aunt mentioned was a wonderful touch, to let the students personalize the installation, and I wondered who would work on the bird for my class this year. I was speculating about that with Brooke Barros, one of my only Sententia friends, when I saw him. A small commotion at the door caught our attention, and we both turned to watch the tall, handsome man begin to make his way through the crowd.
    â€œOh! There’s Senator Astor,” Brooke said. “I’d better go find my parents—they’ll insist I ‘greet him properly.’”
    She made little air quotes around those last words and giggled before she disappeared into the crowd. I think I nodded, or smiled, or did
something
to acknowledge I’d heard her. At least I hoped I did. I hoped I wasn’t as frozen in shock and confusion on the outside as I felt on the inside. I was thankful for a passing waiter so I could deposit my mostly empty champagne glass on his tray before I dropped it.
    The senator, and president of the Perceptum, progressed slowly toward the bronze plaque by which my aunt and Headmaster Stewart still stood, stopping every few steps to shake someone’s hand or exchange a few words. Aunt Tessa had seen Daniel Astor, just as I had. The look of surprise on her face was probably similar to mine, though hers held only curiosity, not the fear I suspected I hadn’t entirely disguised.
    He was quite tall, taller than Carter, though not nearly as broad. Senator Astor was slim and elegant, in a fine gray suit that complemented his fair hair, handsome features, and blue eyes. Eyes from all over the room followed him from the moment of his entrance and he was clearly comfortable being in the spotlight. He carried himself in a way that showed his importance but also made him seem entirely approachable. I was sure he was an excellent politician.
    I also didn’t need Brooke, or anyone for that matter, to tell me who he was. In fact, I’d have known him anywhere, in any setting, and whether he was a senator or not.
    He looked exactly like my father.

Chapter Four
    F or a moment, all I could think was,
this can’t be happening,
followed quickly by,
how is this
possible? I stared at Daniel Astor as he worked the crowd, unsure what to do or even if I believed it. I took a step closer, thinking I was seeing things, that my eyes were playing tricks.
    On closer inspection, Senator Astor looked even
more
like my father, with the same sculpted cheek bones and same friendly smile I’d seen in photographs. The only difference was his hair and eye color. No doubt the rest of their nearly identical features they both inherited from the late Jacob Astor, their father. Carter might have thought of the senator as his uncle, but in reality, he was
mine.
The identity of the older, important man Virginia Marwood had been so desperate to hide my father from was obvious now.
    I was an Astor. An illegitimate Marwood-Astor and I was petrified.
    I was also, as far as I could tell, the only person in the world who knew this and I intended to keep it that way.
    Shaking my head, I broke from my stupefied trance and basically bolted toward my aunt. When I bumped into someone in my haste, I realized drawing attention was the absolute last thing I wanted to do.
Practice discretion,
I reminded myself. The Perceptum motto came in handy more often than I cared to admit. I slowed down while I worked my face into