Sniffing, she pulled away, leaving a trail of tears on yet another of my shirts. “What if maman sees us take her things away and thinks we don’t love her anymore?”

“Oh, mon chou.” My chest grew tight. “No. Maman cannot see from where she is.”

“In heaven?”

“Of course, in heaven. In heaven she only sees and feels with her heart, and her heart knows you will always, always love her.” I had no idea where that pearl of wisdom had dropped from, but it seemed to have a calming effect on Dauphine.

“Truly?”

I swallowed. “Truly.”

We hugged again.

“Is there anything you would like me to keep for you?”

Dauphine looked down the row and the shelves, then she walked to a drawer and opened it. “Maybe some of her jewelry?”

“Of course. I will keep it all for you. I have some at home in Valbonne in the safe too. It will all be yours when you are older.”

She slid the drawer shut. “Okay.” She gave one last sniff, wiped her cheek, and then checked her hair. “Oh, do you like my braid? Josie did it. Do you know in America they call it a French braid?” She giggled, our previous conversation seemingly forgotten. “Isn’t that so silly?”

With a bemused shake of my head, I fingered my daughter’s silky hair that had been expertly tamed. “It’s lovely. You look very pretty. Now go and find Evan, he’ll be wanting to leave to see Grand-père soon.”

She gave a little wave and pirouetted out of the room, her worries about Arriette’s things in the past.

Sucking in a deep breath, I gave one last look at the closet and contemplated changing my shirt again, but then sighed and left the bathroom. I stepped out of the stateroom right as Josie came up the stairs.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, stepping aside. She’d changed into a pale green swim cover-up over the jade bikini she’d bought at the market, and all I could see was her clothing matched the color of her eyes. Did she seriously get more beautiful every time I saw her? She dropped her gaze immediately, and I realized I must have been glaring at her.

I waved a hand. “After you.”

She turned, presenting me with a smooth tanned back and that wavy hair I’d like to wrap my hands in. Maybe while I bent her over and—

She whipped around to me. “Are you … did I do something wrong?”

“No,” I answered quickly, guilt at my dirty thoughts clogging my throat. “Let’s just go.”

Her eyes, so vibrantly green with the outfit she wore, narrowed. “Are you sure?”

“Oui.”

“I don’t know why, but I don’t believe you.”

I raised my eyebrows.