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She opened herbreath, she said, ‘I don’t understand Why did Jeo to Athens?’

There was a flicker in the dark, glittering eyes

‘He wanted what you wanted, Vicky He wanted your ed ‘He see it unreasonably’ The eyes glittered again ‘He was quite aggressive about it Which was curious, really, because, you see—’ the glitter intensified ‘—I only let hi to personally beat him to a pulp…’

He paused ‘It was as well, was it not, therefore, that he spoke first? After all—’ his voice was a blade, sliding between her ribs ‘—what possible cause could I have to beat your brother to a pulp?’

‘He’s my stepbrother’ Her voice was blank As blank as the inside of her skull ‘My stepfather Geoff’s son froether That’s how Geoff h my friendship with his son’

So flashed in Theo’s face A fury so deep that it should have slain her

‘Why? Why did you let me think he was your lover?’

She looked at him

‘Because it ended our e and I wanted out’

Her voice was calm, so very calm What else could she be? The inside of her head was blank—quite, quite blank

At her answer she saw his hands bite over the arms of the chair ‘A simple “I want a divorce” would have sufficed’ The scorn in his voice gutted her

She couldn’t answer It was impossible Impossible to say it To anyone

It was her own terrible, shameful secret

No one could know No one in the world Not Jem, or her uncle, or her mother No one

She watched Theo’s ht, whipped line His eyes were like spears touching her skin, ready to indent into the flesh beneath