“what a sad pair we are," she said. "Surely we can manage a conversation on a topic other than our respective terrible evenings.”

“We'll just forget about this little conversation, shall we? The last bit that is."She managed to stretch her lips into a smile, but what she really wanted to do was hurl the brandy decanter at him.”

“I wonder where everyone is," she muttered."Sleeping, if they have any idea what's good for them," Dunford replied acerbically."I suppose we could get started on our own," she said doubtfully.For the first time all morning he smiled broadly and meant it. "I know less than nothing about stonemasonry, so I vote we wait.”

“Besides," he said breezily, "were it not for misunderstandings, we would be sadly lacking in great literature."She looked at him questioningly."Where would Romeo and Juliet be?""Alive.”

“How do you feel?” she asked, trying to fluff his pillow. “Other than terrible, I mean.”He moved his head slightly to the side. It seemed to be a sickly interpretation of a shrug.“Of course you’re feeling terrible,” she clarified, “but is there any change? More terrible? Less terrible?”He made no response.“The same amount of terrible?”

“Honoria sighed. “We can’t do what we did last year.”“I don’t see why not,” Sarah said. “I can’t imagine anyonewould recognize it from our interpretation”

“We plan to avoid cupids," Mr. Audley said."Cupids?" Amelia echoed. Good heavens, he did move from topic to topic.He shrugged. "I have discovered that I am not fond of them."How could anyone not be fond of cupids?”