course, I understand.”

“Adam will wait right here for the time being,” she directed both men. Then, after a brief pause and a long breath, she told the valet, “I’m ready – let’s go.”

Right then an old lady in an ancient housecoat came hobbling into the room out of nowhere and complained to Christopher, “My big toe’s still hurting, gosh darn it all!” She then noticed Jennifer standing nearby and exclaimed, “Oh my, it’s her, isn’t it?” after which she ran around a corner and out of the room as if practicing for a footrace.

“That was Miss Phoebe Wilkes,” Christopher began to explain, but then he decided to just leave it at that and ushered Jennifer forward toward the main staircase.

The fi...

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