verseeing preparations for what I knew

n," I said, my vo

have t

sneer playing

rumors

tru

it's not t

iberately r

, a harsh,

ning

be so d

e Clair

her mother through, after how Cl

ess is para

reputa

y matters

mine anyway, in the sha

closer, his

er was no

's life, and by extensi

isting ev

r's affair with Amelia, Claire

he malicious one,

en she'd pushed me into the deep end of the

mother," I said, my voice tr

n and Claire was as lavish an

tend, a grotesque dis

dened by his new allia

pered, loud enough

ep a man,

" another added with a wink at Clai

myself, to say s

ot fair,

m, his fingers digg

never leaving his face for t

make a

happy day f

erk, a symbolic slap that

liation, a clear mes

s shining with triumph, thou

rling, are y

a little protec

sture of false sympathy

y distress, just as s

ully awake now, and Clair