Rory caught the heavy missile on reflex, then stood there with it in both hands, staring back at his love. The glittering shards of glass that surrounded her, the littered ruin of so much of her work, barely made an impact on him. All his attention was on Pippa.

So much pain and anger wrapped up in her, flaring out from her blue eyes. Rory tried to imagine a rage so great that it would push him to destroy all his songs and arrangements. She's in agony. What could he do, what could he say?

Setting the crimson piece of glass to one side, he took a few steps closer to her. "Pippa, love, what is it? Talk to me, please."