“I said no. But Aunt Queen changed my mind. She had brought half her entire wardrobe to the hospital and was got up each day in one of her lovely sack-style dresses, with the appropriate cloche hat, and she sat at my bedside holding my hand warmly.

“ ‘Don’t you see, I have to do this!’ she pleaded. ‘I have no choice. If I don’t insist that you talk to these psychiatrists, we’ll stand accused of simple negligence. Think it over, Quinn. We could both be accused. We have to get this out of the way and get back to life the way we want it to be.’

“ ‘And how’s that, Aunt Queen? What’s to happen with Blackwood Manor? Don’t you realize that if you and I leave on one of your exotic junkets, there’ll be no Blackwood on the premises? I’ll meet this teacher, yes, I told you I would, but not here. I insist that it not be here.’

“ ‘I understand, absolutely,’ she said. ‘And don’t you worry about Nash, he’s happily ensconced in the middle guest room at Blackwood Manor, and even if the plan goes south, as they say, he will have had something of a delicious Creole vacation.’

“ ‘You may find this hard to imagine, but I could swear Jasmine is flirting with Nash. Something’s come over Jasmine. And it’s high time if you ask me. Jasmine was prancing around today in a fancy Chanel suit I gave her two years ago. She used to never wear the truly fine things that I gave her. I think Jasmine sees her destiny.’

“ ‘Which is what?’ I asked.

“ ‘To run Blackwood Manor in our absence. She’s completely capable, and Clem and Big Ramona will fully support her. I mean Jasmine has languished in domestic service all her life and she’s sharp and well spoken and can certainly take on the responsibility for a portion of the profit.’

“ ‘I didn’t know we made a profit,’ I said. ‘Pops said we operated at a loss perpetually.’

“ ‘Oh, Pops was pessimistic, bless his soul, and of course he was right. The guests pay for some of the maintenance and upkeep and that’s the whole point, to keep Blackwood Manor in existence, isn’t it? Maybe I should say earnings instead of profit. How does that sound to you? When Pops’ will is read, everything will be easier.’

“ ‘When is that to happen?’ I asked.

“ ‘Well, Patsy’s home, she has been for two days. I imagine we could do it day after tomorrow.’

“ ‘All right,’ I said. I was dazed by all this sudden information. I’d been so self-involved, so full of fear and strange dreams of Rebecca and glances from a Technicolor Goblin.

“This idea of Jasmine running Blackwood Manor began to excite me. It was perfect for Jasmine. Aunt Queen understood Jasmine as no one else did, not even Jasmine.