Jeanne spoke passionately and Mistral realised that this in some way concerned herself, but how she had no idea. She could only smile down at Jeanne and wish that by some magical means she could erase the suffering and unhappiness from her old lined face.
‘Pray do not worry about me, Jeanne,’ she said at length. Something wonderful is going to happen to me, in fact it is already happening, I cannot talk about it yet. But you shall be the first to know, I promise you that.’
She was rewarded by seeing Jeanne’s face light up. Her happiness was reflected in the older woman’s eyes, and then Jeanne’s smile faded and there was a trembling note in her voice as she asked,
‘Is it the Prince, ma chère?’
‘No, no,’ Mistral answered hastily. ‘It is not the Prince, but do not tell Auntie Emilie, I be
