After leaving the lounge, Georgiana walked briskly through the beautiful conservatory.
Though the glass shut out most of the cold wind from the North Sea, there was still a slight chill in the air. She was dressed far too lightly for it, in the fashion of high summer.
She suddenly stopped and slowly turned around, discovering a young man in a white uniform standing behind her. At first, she thought he was a guest's child, but upon closer inspection, she found him very familiar, especially the contours of his face and that ancient Greek nose. It was simply...
"There you are!" a woman suddenly said. "I finally found you."
Georgiana turned her head and saw Chiara striding quickly toward her.
"What do you want?" Georgiana asked aggressively.
"I'm withdrawing," Chiara said, glaring.
"What?"
"I'm withdrawing from this competition," Chiara said in not particularly fluent English, with the Italian accent of legend.
Georgiana did not find that accent charming in the slightest.
"You think withdrawing will solve the problem?" Georgiana said pretentiously.
"I didn't do those things," Chiara said breathlessly. "I swear to God, I didn't do anything."
Georgiana said nothing.
"Are you satisfied now?" Chiara asked.
"What am I supposed to be satisfied about?"
"Make those people stop slandering me." Chiara pointed toward the hall.
"You think I can do that?" Georgiana retorted.
"How can you be like this?" Chiara raised her chin proudly, speaking in disbelief.
"Once rumors spread, they can't be stopped. Why weren't you more careful when you left alone with him just now?"
Chiara raised her hand and slapped her.
Georgiana was enraged. Just as she was about to grab at Chiara's clothes, Goulding appeared and pulled them apart like a referee separating two fighters.
"Calm down, ladies," Goulding said, looking at them both. "This is