Castor took her to a quiet end of the sprawling house and into a
half-unpacked study with a spectacular view of the ocean. Leather
chairs and boxes of books in a dozen different languages fought for
floor space with rolled-up carpets and un-hung paintings. Two
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large desks stood on opposite sides of the room. The tops of each
were already covered in various papers, envelopes, and parcels.
Along the back wall was a row of French doors that opened up to
a patio bordering the beach. In front of the doors were two sofas
and a big armchair, all three set up facing each other.
Cassandra sat in the oversized armchair reading a book, which
she put aside when Helen and Castor entered. Helen expected her
to leave, or at least be asked to leave, but after a few moments it
was clear that Cassandra had been waiting here for Helen and
Castor to come to her and have this conversation. How Cassandra
knew there would be a conversation at all was beyond Helen, but
Castor didn?t seem surprised.
Castor offered Helen a seat on one sofa and then sat down on the
other. He glanced at Cassandra, dwarfed by her giant chair, and
then began.
?How much do you know about Greek mythology?? he asked.
?You mean, like the Trojan War? Homer and all that?? she asked
in return. When Castor nodded, she shrugged. ?I know bits of it. I
was supposed to read the Iliad but there was this chemistry exam
. . .? Her excuses were interrupted by Cassandra passing Helen
the book she was reading. It was an anthology containing both the
Iliad and the Odyssey.
?Keep it. We?ve got plenty of extras,? she said with a wry smile.
It was the first attempt at a joke Helen had ever seen Cassandra
make, so she forced a smile in response.