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'I auess I'm Lorna Cassidy, William's aunt'

'Aunt?' Sian was surprised by that; Cass hadn't said he had an aunt

'By e, of course My husband was his father's brother They are all dead now, unhappily; I'eneration in the family I didn't have any children of my own, and I think of William almost as a son, especially since his mother died'

'Oh, I see,' Sian said, still wary because she suspected the other wo here Was she about to be asked to stop seeing Cass? Or threatened? Or even blackmailed? After all she had learnt about the Cassidy fadalena had asked her aunt to visit the newspaper and put the fear of God into Sian! Well, she needn't bother None of theer to them; it was still Annette Cass loved, and Sian had tooher either for amusement or as a smokescreen

'Like everyone else, I've been reading the papers,' Mrs Cassidy said

Sian nodded without comment Of course she had! Why else would she be here?

'I'rateful to you, Sian May I call you Sian, by the way? Such a lovely nahtful I was horrified when dalena, but then Enid was always one for going over the top Magda takes after her in that My brother-in-law chose the boys' nalish names, so much more sensible'

Sian was a little confused, but smiled There seemed to be no need to comment; Mrs Cassidy didn't pause for more than an instant 'Do sit down, Sian We can't talk while you loom over me'

Sian backed to a chair and sat, her hands in her lap

Mrs Cassidy considered her shrewdly 'Being jilted at the last minute like that was a terrible blow to William's pride, of course, but I think he was lucky If he had married Annette, it would have been far worse for hi run, that's my opinion—not that he asked for it, but then William never takes any notice of what anyone else thinks'

'I see you know him well!'

'And I see that you do,' his aunt nodded, s 'I'm very curious I have been ever since I first heard about you I couldn't quite make up my mind whether William wanted to kill you or see more of you'

Sian turned cri

'Whatever it was, your effect on hi,' said Mrs Cassidy 'And the ued, too'

'That was his idea,' Sian confessed hurriedly 'He wanted them to think that we… that…'