“‘Mon enfant, I am not ill. Just no longer young.’ ‘But your letter…’ Her great-aunt took her hand, patted it. ‘I told you that this would be my last summer at Les Sables. And so it will. In the autumn, I plan to sell and move—elsewhere.’ ‘But I thought…’ ‘That I was dying?’ The older woman shook her head. ‘Au contraire, chérie. I have every reason to live, even at my advanced age.’ ‘You—deceived me?’ Allie felt dazed. ‘Une petite ambiguité, peut-être,’ Tante agreed calmly.‘Because, selfis...hly, I wished very much to see you, and also le petit, before more time passed. And for that I needed a very good reason. One that you would believe, and which would defeat the undoubted objections of madame ta belle-mère.’ She paused. ‘Was it not so?’ ‘Oh, yes.’ Allie was still gasping. ‘It certainly worked.’ ‘Then what harm has been caused?’ Oh, God, thought Allie. If you knew—if you only knew… ‘And am I forgiven?’ There was an anxious note in Tante’s voice. ‘Of course you are, darling.’ Allie tried to speak lightly.MoreLessRead More Read Less
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