They were all she owned.
"Come on, Lily," whispered an elderly homeless woman beside her.
"We should leave."
"But Mommy said..."
The little girl looked toward the glowing ballroom.
"...she said if I ever got lost, I should find someone named Ashcombe."
The elderly woman sighed sadly.
"I know, sweetheart."
"But rich people don't welcome children like us."
Before they could turn away, a catering employee pushed open the back door carrying empty trays.
Lily seized the chance.
She slipped quietly inside.
Everything amazed her.
The music.
The flowers.
The enormous staircase.
She had never imagined a place so beautiful.
Maybe...
Maybe Mommy had been right.
Maybe someone here would know her family.
She walked carefully across the marble floor until she reached the reception desk.
"Excuse me..."
A hostess looked down impatiently.
"Yes?"
"I'm looking for Mr. Ashcombe."
The hostess frowned.
"Which one?"
"I...I don't know."
"My mommy just told me to find Ashcombe."
Before the hostess could answer, Victoria noticed the child.
Her smile vanished instantly.
"What," she asked sharply, "is that doing here?"
The hostess lowered her voice.
"She says she's looking for someone named Ashcombe."
Victoria barely glanced at the frightened girl.
Then came the words every nearby guest would remember forever.
"Get this trash out of here!"
The room fell strangely quiet.
"I won't have beggars ruining my engagement party."
Security hurried toward Lily.