"It's just like Naomi," Luce murmurs softly to herself, remembering the woman who she had let cry on her shoulder. That just makes her remember the party, and she whirls on Greg with a finger pointing right at his face.

"Do not let Edward Blanche find out about this!" An uncharacteristic pleading is in her voice. "I can't let you end up like Naomi, Greg. I don't know what we'll do, but I can't."