" Liar!" she said."Grace!" Madame gasped and she slapped Miss Harcourt around the side of her face, "My Lord Blanchforth is a valued customer not your...lover, now hold your tongue."Miss Harcourt glared at her, the colour rising in her cheeks."I you would add this morning to my account Madame," I asked and I swiftly dressed as Miss Harcourt sullenly scowled at me."Show Lord Blanchforth how proficient you are at the Harpsichord," Madame demanded suddenly."Madame!" Miss Harcourt protested. "I have. I was gripped with a panic.The obvious answer was to cut my hair. Call into the barber on the wayto work and get a buzz cut. Then grow a beard. A buzz cut and a bearddo not work with a dress. My problems would be over. But I could notdo it. I actually could not grow a beard - I tried. And cutting myhair. I could not bring myself to do it.I contemplated calling in sick. But then what happens tomorrow? Will Ido this whole thing again tonight. Is this my life now, wrestling withperverse. .. didn't think we did that well together." You didn't complain at the time..." Damian stepped forward -- and Candace stepped back, allowing him to come through the door."I was being polite," Candace offered, controlling her voice to keep things non-confrontational."You enjoyed it." It was a statement, not a question."Some of it..." Candace admitted."All of it." Damian continued to challenge."Women don't like being called slut and being dragged around by the hair!" Candace insisted."Most. He grabbed two glasses from the cupboard and filled them, just as Polly dished up the food. As they sat down and started eating, Alex smiled. "This is delicious. Mom always said you were an amazing cook", he said, but with the thought of his mother came pain.Polly reached over and placed her hand on top of her nephew's hand. "It's alright to show that you're in pain. You're hurting right now and you don't have to hide it, not around me", she said sweetly. "Thanks", Alex said and resumed eating,.