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Katherine stared at Julia intently

“I triedand I will continue to do so But even if I fail, eventually everyone will move on to the latest scandal By the tiotten”

“That’s six years away, Professor”

Professor Picton s, I think you should call me Katherine”

“Thank you, Katherine” Julia returned her s excellent If you prove yourself, all the gossip in the world can’t diminish it It’s possible you’ll have to work harder than others, but I don’t think you’re bothered by hard work Are you?”

“No, I’m not”

“Good” Katherine sat back in her chair “My next piece of advice will be a little bit more difficult to hear”

Julia braced herself for the words to come

“You need to be more assertive, academically I understand that it’s your nature to be shy and that you’d prefer to avoid confrontation But in the academic arena, you cannot do that When you deliver a paper and soht back You can’t sustain uided or malicious criticisms, especially in public Do you understand?”

“I don’t see up in my seminars Professor Marinelli has been pleased”

“Good My advice is to be yourself toht Be excellent And don’t let yourself be ravaged by wolves like soe reference, but she said nothing

“You mustn’t let your husband defend you, either That will make you look weak You need to defend yourself and your ideas if you’re going to be successful Gabriel isn’t going to like that But you must make him see that when he comes to your aid, he ood Chivalry in academia is dead”

Julia nodded a bit uncertainly

Katherine finished her pint

“Now, let’s see if Gabriel has ed to char what they ” She winked “For so I’ than any of theined”

Gabriel spent his time apart from Julianne wisely He visited with old friends and new acquaintances at the King’s Arood use By the end of the hour, he’d succeeded in giving a half a dozen Dante specialists reason to think that Christa Peterson was a jealous ex-student and that he and Julia were the victims of slander

So it ith a markedly improved mood that he joined Professor Picton and Julia for dinner Katherine spoke fluidly as the wine flohile Gabriel kept up his end of the conversation

Julia was quiet, even e eyes tired She merely picked at her dinner and couldn’t even be tempted by dessert It was clear that the events of the day had caught up with her

When she excused herself to go to the ladies’ rooave Gabriel a concerned look