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"I’m sorry," Honoria said It was difficult to sound truly sy with joy, but she tried

"The worst is Daisy," Iris saidaround like – I say, is that blood on your sleeve?"

"What?" Honoria twisted her neck to take a look There was a penny-sized splotch on the puffy part of her sleeve Heaven only knehichby the time she’d left "Oh Er, no, I don’t knohat that is"

Iris frowned and looked closer "I think it’s blood"

"I can tell you for a fact that it’s not," Honoria lied

"Well, then what is – "

"What did Daisy do?" Honoria cut in quickly And when Iris just blinked at her, she said, "You said she was the worst"

"Well, she is," Iris declared fervently "She needn’t do anything specific She just – "

She was cut off by a loud trill of laughter Co from Daisy

"I may cry," Iris announced

"No, Iris, you – "

"Allow me my misery," Iris cut in

"Sorry," Honoriaday of my life" Iris shook her head, her expression alain, Honoria I tell you, I cannot I don’t care if there’s no other cellist waiting to take my spot I cannot do it"

"If you marry"

"Yes, I’m aware of that," Iris nearly snapped "Don’t think it did not cross et out of having to join the quartet"

Honoria winced Lord Venable was old enough to be their grandfather And then soain," Iris said, the choke in her voice ale when people come up to compliment me on the performance I don’t knohat to say"

"Of course," Honoria said, taking her cousin’s hand

"Honoria, there you are!" It was herover "Where have you been?"

Honoria cleared her throat "I went upstairs to lie down for a few minutes I was suddenly exhausted"

"Yes, well, it was a long day," her mother said with a nod

"I don’t knohere the tietically Who knew she was such a good liar? First the blood and now this

"It is of no consequence," herto Iris "Have you seen Miss Wynter?"

Iris shook her head