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" 'Passionately and undyingly ¡¯

"Our final kisses were long and lingering, and drunkenly sweet

"Then Michael Curry saw ate, which did need a key to unlock it

"He took ht, and he kissed ood boy, Quinn,' he said

" 'Thank you, Michael,' I said 'I really adore her ¡¯

"As soon as Goblin and I were securely in the back of the limousine I burst into tears

"On and on we drove, and I couldn't stop crying And as we crossed the black waters of Lake Pontcha

rtrain, Goblin put his arms around me and he said in his low voice, rather like Ariel in The Tempest, 'I'm sorry, Quinn; if I were human, I would cry too ' "

Chapter32

32

"IT HAD BEEN some time since Aunt Queen had held Full Court in her bedroom, or boudoir, as we called it on such occasions, but when I entered the house I was informed by an exquisitely dressed Jash heels -- that this was a special night

"She was entertaining Nash, of course, because the tere getting on far better than Aunt Queen had ever drea cameos such as Aunt Queen had never beheld Jasmine threw in a bit of mockery with a roll of her eyes and a lift of her eyebrows 'All carved out of jewels,' she said

"I was soleo upstairs, freshen up, put on lish shirt and Church's shoes and coifts Since I was already pretty much dressed this didn't involve much inconvenience

"As to the courtly life, I welcomed the distraction The liquor I'd drunk had worn off and left me electrified with love and concern for Mona, and I could not possibly have fallen asleep The night see near, and I wanted the lights and cheerful conversation of Aunt Queen's room

" 'Coether We've been apart too much lately, you know it Come with me ¡¯