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“Yes, perhaps”

But Francesca didn’t want to talk about Uncle Williaht of the ball He’d been so different ever since, so affable and friendly If he was really trying so hard to make amends, then she owed him soe?

“Perhaps it was the letter,” she said, speaking to herself as well as her mother

“The letter?” Aphrodite went still “What letter is this, Francesca?”

“The letter from my father Tommy You told me about it when you were unwell, Mother When we returned frory He saidfor love because I was an unwanted child I had to show him that wasn’t true, and so I told him about the letter”

Aphrodite sighed “My poor darling I see it all now What did he say, when you told him about Tommy’s letter??

??

“He changed Perhaps he realized then that he rong He’s beena real effort ever since For exa, he held out my chair for me to sit down, and complimented s have i she will be able to write to Mr Jardine very soon and ask him to travel to London to be with us”

“Yes, I can see she would be relieved at the change in her brother” But Aphrodite didn’t sound iht, she was tired It wasn’t long since she had been in bed, close to death She still had nightmares about Maeve’s confession and the journey she had istered what Aphrodite had said earlier, and she forgot all about Uncle William

“You mentioned Lord Worthorne, Mother Has he been here?”

“He’s here now, petit chaton”

“Oh” She felt herself light up with all the brilliance of a gas lamp She couldn’t help it

Seeing her reaction, Aphrodite s for you in the Bacchus Room”

“The Bacchus Room?” Francesca repeated curiously

The courtesan pushed her ledgers to one side and swung her legs down fro for some people Take care”