Katarina looked around. “I can’t imagine it was, no,” she said at last. “I applaud your initiative, but you’ll want to aim your cannon more carefully next time.”
It hurt, but it would have hurt more if Katarina had contradicted her. Elizabeth would not have been able to bear dishonesty. “I’m sorry,” she offered miserably.
“I didn’t ask you to apologize.” Katarina’s tone was matter-of-fact. She lit another gasper. “Just learn from it. Take more care.”
“Unmake it.”
“That, too.”
“Doesn’t it…trouble you at all? The idea of all this—I mean, it’s the only life you know. The idea of this just not being?”
“Trouble me?” Katarina stared at her. “Do you have any idea—No, of course you don’t.” She rearranged herself, preparing to answer the question on its merits. “No, Miss Elizabeth, it does no
