“Hello,” she said. “Come in.” She stepped back and let Teddy and Lila enter. Teddy came in first, of course, striding past Katerina with her head held high like a ballerina’s, her spine, Abigail thought, almost unnaturally straight. Then came Lila, a plump, pretty woman with curly white hair, smiling furtively, timidly at the back of Teddy’s head. “Have a seat,” said Maxine by way of greeting, not bothering to stand. Teddy and Abigail looked at each other for an instant of shocked silence. Then Abigail said, “Hello, Claire.” “Call me Teddy, please,” said Teddy. She took the chair across from Maxine; Lila sat facing Abigail. Abigail could not stop staring at Teddy. She forced herself to look away, make a joke. “The seconds,” she said, “are in place.” “Quiet,” said Maxine. “Seconds,” said Teddy. “Ah! You mean for the duel. This is my friend Lila Scofield. The original owner of Helena.” Teddy seemed collected, unfazed, even though she couldn’t have known Abigail was going to be here.
