Fotherby’s gaze never altered, although he could feel the dizziness that accompanied the determination to withhold tears. Manny walked out of the room without looking back at him, who lowered his head feeling overwhelming guilt at pressing the young servant on the topic. After several minutes he walked from the room and forced a smile as he saw Persephone waiting at the foot of the stairs between the two huge marble statues.

“I had almost despaired of you, Henry,” she began, her musical voice making each word beautiful.

“I had not forgotten, Miss Chester. How could I?”

“My dear Henry, your manners are so impeccable that I knew you would not.”

Having taken so long to appear downstairs, Fotherby did not wish to take longer by...

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