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the promises I had made to Daddy. I had to remain
here to look after Gisselle, as best I could, to succeed
at my art and become a credit to his memory.
Somehow, I would overcome the obstacles Daphne
was sure to place in my path, I vowed, and some day I
would do just what she had said I would do: I would
help Uncle Jean.
I returned to my bed and lay there thinking and
dozing off until I heard Gisselle go to the stairway and
have Edgar help her down to attend the wake. Then I
got down on my knees and recited the prayers I would
have recited at Daddy's coffin.
Martha brought up a tray of food for me, and
even though she had explicit orders from Nina
commanding me to eat, I just picked and nibbled, my appetite gone, my stomach too tight and nervous to
accept much more.
214
Hours later, I heard a gentle knock on my door.
I was lying there in the dark, with just the moonlight
spilling through my window illuminating the room. I
leaned over, flicked on a lamp, and told whoever it
was to enter. It was Beau, with Gisselle right behind
him.
"Daphne doesn't know he's up here," she said
quickly, a capricious smile on her face. How she so
enjoyed doing forbidden things, even if it meant doing
something for me. "Everyone thinks he's wheeling me
around the house. There are so many people here, we
won't be missed. Don't worry."
"Oh Beau, you'd better not stay here. Daphne
