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Surely her fears had not come to pass?

What if Sebastian abandoned her? She would be left alone, wandering theone of Mrs Hall’s dreadful dresses, wet and bedraggled, Wolf lie

She was so deep in her own concerns that she did not hear it at first The stirring a of the crowd And when at last she looked up, just as a hush fell, her eyes widened in amazement

Aphrodite stood in the entrance to the supper roo black, and those closest to her had e circle of open floor between her and them She did not seeers, and she lifted her chin proudly, and turned her head fro her

Francesca was about to step forhen sorabbed her arm to stop her “How dare you come here without an invitation!” Uncle William said loudly by her side

Aphrodite turned to the sound of his voice, and it was as if she’d found who she was looking for “Williaain”

Francesca could see such fury in his eyes that she was stunned He had shown this hatred of her mother before, and she had never really understood it Was it really explained by her profession and the scandal he felt she brought to his family?

“You are not wanted here,” he said “You are not invited”

But Aphrodite was unfazed She began to walk toward hi, and people hter for interrupting her evening,” she said “But it cannot be helped I must put an end to this now, for all our sakes Before someone else is hurt Or murdered”

The word riveted everyone Not even a murmur passed the hundreds of lips

“You stupid woman—”

“I have so to show you, William”

Francesca had never seen hiry His lean cheeks were flushed, his hands were shaking, and his words tumbled over themselves in his fury “Get out! Get out now!”

Aphrodite was holding up a piece of paper She stretched her hand high above her, so that everyone could see it Williauests, knocking the who he offended He was like a different man

“It is a letter,” she announced, anxiously watching his struggle “It ritten to hter and his plans for her future He talks about—”