“I think I picked something up. A rumor.” I tried to make my face look blank, since of course I was not supposed to know the details of what Tom had told me.
In the background, I heard Julian say, “Actually, Chantal, I probably shouldn’t come look at your room.” Oh Lord. “But I can teach you to prep these lamb chops, if you want.” Chantal murmured something, and Julian replied, “I’m a vegetarian, too. But a job’s a job.” Then Chantal started up again with her bright patter, and I could tune her out while I tried to concentrate on what Elizabeth was saying.
“Before I deeded half my inheritance over to him,” she was saying, “he wouldn’t stop talking about how he was going to save the world from the bad guys. What was I doing? he demanded to know.” She stopped to dab her eyes. “Well, I was
