Here, you should probably know how to do this, Val said and I received a burst of instructions.

Concentrating on the fiction I was building, I was able to spare only a corner of my mind to be shocked at what I’d just learned. It was one thing to suggest or hide, another to bury one personality for another.

We have to trust one of them to be a good actor, why take a chance we don’t have to?

I knew Val was right, so with a steadying breath, I crafted a persona for Kseniya.

Her eyes glazed then she sighed softly, leaning a little closer to Martin. He looked down at her, confused, and she smiled at him, saying, “I know you hate traveling by train, but I think there’s a romance to it. Thank you.” She kissed him lightly on the cheek and turned her attention to the food before her.

Martin stared at me. There were footsteps outside the door. I grit my teeth and prayed.

A knock on the door just as Martin smiled ruefully and put an arm around Kseniya saying, “Ah my love, I could never refuse you anything.”