Page 68 (1/2)

“She’s worn down to nothing over this business with Mrs Slater and that bastard who kidnapped her daughters” His eyes widened “Does that mean he planned this, too?”

“I’ll find out” Sebastian hesitated “Do you want me to fetch Francesca?”

“Yes She’ll like that It’ll cohter Francesca’s the one she worries about thewith rage “What are we going to do about…?”

“Say nothing just yet Give me time to plan Then we’ll close the trap”

Chapter 20

Lil’s elfin face was so serious As soon as Francesca saw her standing at the door, she knew there was so

“Miss, I have bad news Your mother…Madame Aphrodite, she is very unwell”

Francesca heard herself say, “Unwell?” but she didn’t believe it Was her ? But no, that was the way of an emotionally unstable woman—the woman she used to think of as Aphrodite Not the real Aphrodite, the woers and tired eyes “What do you mean, unwell?”

“They’re saying she has the cholera, ht it into the house But it’s not true Rosie’s not sick There’s nothing wrong with her”

Francesca tried to co, but it wouldn’t seem to sink in She felt numb

“She’s very bad, ently “You need to come”

“Do you …?” Her voice rose on the last word, incredulous, disbelieving Aphrodite couldn’t die! She was indestructible And besides, there was so much more to be said between them…

“Miss?” Lil had taken her arm, and Francesca understood that the maid was seriously alarether She

“I’o We will take Uncle Williae Ask for it to be sent around to the door”

Lil, who see to do, hurried off to carry out her orders Francesca stood a moment in her rooloves, but strangely unable to move Some of Lil’s words echoed in her mind Cholera Rosie If that were true, then