“I don’t know for sure. We’ll have to wait until this all dies down and see how long your parents, probably your mother, continue to appeal to the media. It might not be a matter of only a few weeks, Roxy. If you don’t want to go through this, we’ll understand. I’ll double your kill fee, and we’ll arrange for you to return home. Maybe things will be different for you now that they’ve shown a desire to get you back. Who knows?”
“No, they’ll never be any different. He’ll only hate me more for having put them through this,” I said.
“Well, the choice is yours.”
“I prefer to keep hoping I can join your organization,” I s
aid. “I’m willing to do what you want.”
She nodded slowly. “Good. As you see, I’m not exactly giving up on you. I’ll visit you as soon as I can and as often as I can, as will Mrs. Pratt.”
“What about Sheena?” I asked.
“What about her?”
“Can she visit, too?”
“We’ll see. I think for now, it’s better that you don’t tell her about this and . . .”
“And give her any false hope,” I muttered.
“I’ll explain things to her. I’ll tell her I have you overseas for some necessary training and education. And you will have some important and beneficial experiences. I have a trusted associate in Monte Carlo who will look after you, Norbert Davies, a distant relative of Daphne du Maurier.”
“The author of Rebecca?”
“Yes. He’s very interesting, but he can exhaust you with stories of the family, the famous actors and writers. He handles some of the Principality of Monaco’s business affairs. He’ll do a good job watching over you. I trust him with you completely for many reasons.
“I’m going to ask Professor Marx to draw up a list of reading for you and have the books and materials sent over. The villa has a small exercise room and an infinity pool, so you’ll continue to follow your physical regimen. You have enough information to know how to develop your own program. Norbert will arrange for your beauty needs. There’s a limousine and a driver to service you, although you won’t be going around anywhere on your own. When I can’t respond to anything you need quickly enough, Mrs. Pratt will arrange for it,” she added. Mrs. Pratt nodded.
“So, do I go pack or . . .”
“Everything’s been packed that you’re taking, Roxy. You’ll have the opportunity to get whatever else you need there.”
“Been packed?”
“We’ve been working on this all morning,” Mrs. Pratt said.
I nodded. “So I leave . . .”
“Immediately, if you choose to do what I’m asking,” Mrs. Brittany replied.
I looked from her to Mrs. Pratt. Neither broke into a smile or even changed expression.
“Just like that? Just get up and walk out of here, dressed the way I am?”
Mrs. Brittany finally smiled. “You came with nothing and easily left whatever you had,” she said.
“I had nothing, but can’t I at least say good-bye to Sheena?”
“I told you I’d rather you not,” she said. “Let me handle that.”
She rose.
“The car’s waiting,” Mrs. Pratt told her.
What a strange feeling it was to know that you could go off and take nothing with you and that you could literally disappear from anyone you cared about or who cared about you. It made me feel light, airy, invisible. I stood, looked at Mrs. Pratt, and started out.
“Head up,” Mrs. Pratt snapped.