Page 87 (2/2)

"Charlotte is ready to go home and can’t find her anywhere"

"Perhaps she went to the retiring rooested

Lady Winstead looked dubious "She’s been gone quite a long ti of Daniel back in the corridor, "if I ht have a ith you"

"It will have to wait," Lady Winstead said, shaking her head "I’roorried about Miss Wynter"

"Perhaps she needed a lie down as well," Honoria suggested

"I suppose I do hope Charlotte thinks to give her an extra day off this week" Lady Winstead gave a little nod, as if agreeing with herself "I believe I will go find her right now and estion It is the least we can do Miss Wynter truly saved the day"

Honoria and Iris watched her leave, then Iris said, "I suppose it depends upon your definition of the word ‘saved’ "

Honoria let out a little giggle and looped her arh her cousin’s "Come with me," she said "We shall take a turn about the roo it"

"Happy and proud is beyond my capabilities, but – "

Iris was interrupted by a resounding crash Or not exactly a crash More like a splintering sound With a few pops And twangs

"What was that?" Iris asked

"I don’t know" Honoria craned her neck "It sounded like – "

"Oh, Honoria!" they heard Daisy shriek "Your violin!"

"What?" Honoria walked slowly toward the coether

"Oh,to herhand on Honoria, as if to say – It’s better if you don’t look

"What is going on? I – " Honoria’s jaent slack

"Lady Honoria!" Lady Danbury barked "So sorry about your violin"

Honoria only blinked, staring down at the led remains of her instrument "What? How?"

Lady Danbury shook her head hat Honoria suspected was exaggerated regret "I have no idea The cane, you know I must have knocked it off the table"

Honoria felt herHer violin didn’t look as if it had been knocked off a table Honestly, Honoria was at a loss as to how it could have got into such a state It was absolutely wrecked Every string had snapped, pieces of ere completely detached, and the chin rest was nowhere to be seen

Clearly, it had been tra you a new one," Lady Danbury announced

"Oh No," Honoria said, with a strange lack of inflection "It’s not necessary"