_Author’s POV_
Rita had come to the sitting room early, before most of the household was moving, and she had sat in the chair nearest the window with her hands folded and her back straight. After everything that had happened, she realized how much of a fool she was and wanted nothing but to make amends.
Just then, Kasper arrived first. Then followed by Miriam and Vicky, drawn by the message Velvet had sent to them from Kasper.
Since Rowena was still asleep, Kasper had called her two trusted sister in-laws first. They would do it themselves before Rowena arrived.
They arranged themselves in the east sitting room imhurriedly.
Rita looked at each of them in turn.
Then she said, clearly and without the hesitation that had characterized every previous conversation about Alic
