10/05/2026 06:39

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Lauren stood up. Now look, over there, Gabriel, that's sugarcane. Tom's study light was on, but there was no soundfrom the room. Yes, it is.

'Youhave to be clever to go there, though. The nearest, shesupposed, was that she had wanted to feel desirable herselfstill, not dull, not sexless, not someone to be set aside infavour of another lovelier, more joyful body. ''Yes, all the way from London. Octavia's breakfast meeting was at the Connaught; she wasearly, but Melanie was already there, drinking orange juiceand coffee like one possessed, glass in one hand, cup in theother.