A big hole was growing in the pit of Violet’s stomach. Something gnawing at her, that was certain, but more than that was the enormous uncertainty that seemed to swallow her with apprehension. This was not the first time she’d been warned to stay away from Lionel Rains and Hollywood romance. Old fears returned to hunt her down, while new ones grew from the seeds of disquiet Clarisse planted in her mind. She wanted to throw the woman out; she’d heard enough. But she felt powerless to do so. Finally, too agitated to do nothing, she popped up from the bed, announcing brusquely:
“I think I’ll take a bath.”
***
Lionel didn’t want Violet to leave the house that night. The usual excuse. ‘I may need you to make up a scene or two’. He used the excuse often enough that Violet wasn’t surprised whe
