rather than part. But was Helen Hamilton any better than Helen of
Troy if she wouldn?t give up the man she wanted when it was
required?
?Why didn?t anyone tell me this before?? Helen burst out.
?Lucas forbade it. He said he wanted a little time and a little privacy,
and no one blamed him for that. Relationships are private
things.?
?But we?re not allowed to have a relationship, are we?? Tears
tried to make hot puddles out of her eyes. ?This isn?t fair.?
?I know it isn?t,? Noel said, brushing a lock of Helen?s hair behind
her shoulder so she could see her face.
?Are none of us are allowed to choose?? Helen said, thinking of
Cassandra and what she had to suffer. Her whole body was clammy
with nervous sweat and starting to shake. How could she stay away
from Lucas? She didn?t think she could make herself do that any
sooner than she could make one of her hands shrivel up and fall
off.
?Castor and I tried to choose differently,? Noel said sadly. ?We
tried to run away just before Lucas was born. We wanted a fresh
start so badly that we didn?t even give him a traditional name.?
?So what happened?? Helen asked, desperate to keep Noel talking
and maybe learn something that might give her a reason to
hope.
?What always happens,? Noel said with a knowing smile.
?Family.?
Helen sat still for a moment, unwilling to stand up for fear that it
would end the interview and therefore end her welcome in this
house. She knew from witnessing everyone else?s obedient reaction
that what Noel said in her kitchen was law for the entire family.
Helen had always thought that Noel was the weak one, the one who