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"Which no doubt you will cook," Flavia grumbled as she picked up an empty basket and went back to the laundry
Si up the wash, but kept her eye on the old woman until she made her way safely back into the convent Aside from the common ailment they all shared, most of the women who resided at La Roseraie suffered froe
Flavia, a for when her illness had ended her career La Roseraie, an inheritance fro relative, had first provided her with a sanctuary as she learned how to cope with the abrupt change in her circumstances Her faith had done the rest, and over the next thirty years she had opened the doors of the convent to other sisters who, by illness or injury, had found themselves in the saht her to live with him, he had taken her to the sisters to receive instruction As young as she had been, Siirl is to be versed in all mathematics, sciences, literature, and world affairs," her father said "Teach her every language you and the others speak She will coe"
"Monsieur, what you ask is simply impossible," Flavia had protested "No child could master so , madame" He handed her a folded slip of paper When she had passed her fingers over the strange bumps that covered it, he said, "I will send her to you at dawn tomorrow My driver will return at noon to collect her"
Whatever the bumpy paper had meant, it had convinced Flavia to accept the impossible demands of Siirl spent nearly all of her s like a withered sponge
Simone had always been a quiet, obedient child who devoted herself to her lessons Only gradually did the sisters discover the bruises and cuts, the sprains and bumps This distressed the Finally Flavia had taken Siarden for tea and butter cookies As the little girl nibbled on the unexpected treat, the old woman touched her arm
"Did your papa do this to you, child?" the old woash just above Simone’s elbow
"No, madame," she answered truthfully "It wasnot to li on the path from the house" When Simone didn’t reply, Flavia took hold of her hands "Does your father beat you, child?"
"No,to hurt her "Papa never touches me"
"I hear the truth in your voice, but these wounds…" Gentle fingertips caressed Simone’s cheek "You must learn to be more careful with yourself, child"
"Oui, ainst her paline that she did "Will you be teaching me today?"
Over time Simone did learn to be faster, and her frequent injuries dwindled and then vanished altogether By the ti her to the convent by car and instead had her run up the hill eachLike so many of his requirerew accustomed to it
In between her lessons Si Flavia and the other wo sed to be alloere for her true pleasures
"Papa does not keep chickens or cows, and all of our food coood at finding eggs, and very fast The hens never have a chance to peck , but it was those little chores she did that brightened each day The wos that her father knew nothing of, fro
When she was sixteen, Sie to ask her father whether she could join the sisters permanently "There is plenty of room, and they like me I can work for , and I can plant lavender and herbs to sell atto live with her father, Si Nor did she return for her lessons until a week later
"We were so worried about you," Flavia said as she ate "What happened? Were you sick?"
Simone blinked back hot tears "I am well, madame," she lied "Father needed me to stay at the manor with him"
"Why?"
She could tell Flavia only what her father had instructed her to say "It is family business"
Flavia, ever sensitive to her ain about her absence, and in time Simone made peace hat had happened Yet from that day she never called her father Papa, or thethe last load of laundry as the black sky slowly lightened When she returned to the convent, the stars had winked out and a dusty orange glow hemmed the horizon In the kitchen she found two sisters, Manon and Paulette, preparing theover which preserves to put on the table
"Your hibiscus jelly is too sour this year," Manon co jam is not too sweet?" Paulette admonished "Who complained that it made their teeth ache? Oh, yes I remember now Everyone except you"