Advena was aware of it even as it left
her lips, and the perception covered her with a damning
blush. She had a sudden terrified misgiving that her role
was too high for her, that she had already cracked her
mask. But she looked quietly at Miss Cameron and smiled
across the tide that surged in her as she added, "He was
very distressed at having to go."
They looked at her in an instant's blank astonishment.
Miss Cameron opened her lips and closed them again,
glancing at Mrs Kilbannon. They fell back together, but
not in disorder. This was something much more formidable
than common curiosity. Just what it was they would consider
later; meanwhile Mrs Kilbannon responded with what she
would have called cool civility.
"Perhaps you have heard that Mr Finlay is my nephew?"
she said.
"Indeed I have. Mr Finlay has told me a great deal about
you, Mrs Kilbannon, and about his life at Bross," Advena
replied. "And he has told me about you, too," she went
on, turning to Christie Cameron.
"Indeed?" said she.
"Oh, a long time ago. He has been looking forward to your
arrival for some months, hasn't he?"
"We took our passages in December," said Miss Cameron.
"And you are to be married almost immediately, are you
not?" Miss Murchison continued, pleasantly.
Mrs Kilbannon had an inspiration.
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