Alison had been blessed by nature all her life – only I knew the other, darker side of her character. And only I knew the pain, the torment of a jealousy that could never be assuaged. Throughout our childhood, she stood in golden light, centre stage, while I, blinking though heavy spectacles, looked on…As we grew to adulthood, it seemed that the path fate had charted for her was smooth, and straight, and clear. Gradually, I resigned myself to staying in her shadow, playing out the role of second sister. I would have been content that way if only she had not fallen in love with Mark Ward…