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Another face caht she was drea—Aphrodite, at the height of her powers and her beauty And then Francesca said, “Mother?”

Of course It was Francesca, her youngest daughter Her hter The one she worried about the most

“Petit chaton,” Aphrodite whispered, “I am sorry you must see me like this I aet better, you will see Soon I will be ain”

Tears filled Francesca’s eyes, and her mouth trembled “I’m so sorry,” she said shakily “This is all my fault”

Aphrodite frowned “Nonsense!” she said, as strongly as she could e “It is not your fault It is not anybody’s fault I was sick once for a year, but I forced ed “You look like your father,” she whispered, and smiled “He was a wonderful man, petit chaton You know, you are very like him”

“Who was asped “Please, tell me who he was?”

“He died,” she whispered “I’m sorry you never knew him”

A grief Francesca had never expected to feel filled her heart

“But he had plans for you Grand plans He wrote and told o”

“What was my father’s name?”

“Tommy,” she said, and smiled Aphrodite’s eyes closed, but she reached out her other hand, and Dobson closed his fingers over it “The letter” She was struggling to get the words out “We must…the letter…” But she had slipped back into her feverish sleep

“Will she get better?” Francesca sounded stark as Jemmy walked with her to the bedchaaze was compassionate for her Such kindness from a man she hardly knehile her own uncle treated her with contempt! She felt as if her heart would break

“I won’t lie to you,” he said “She’s not strong in her body But there’s no one else I knoith a stronger will She’ll fight”

“This is my fault”

“No, it ain’t,” he retorted