page_358 < previous page page_358 next page > Page 358 obviously thought something was amiss. "I assumed cousins always had a place at Whitefriars. That's what Micah said." "He probably meant elderly cousins who have no place else to go. You could go back to wherever you came from. Cousin Amos would have to take you in, as you are his granddaughter, even if your father is Theodule." "Christophe has a loose tongue," Jody observed wryly. "Who else did he tell that to?" "I have no idea. Claudia told me. At least it explains why Cousin Amos never answered our letters about you." "You wrote and asked him?" Jody stared at her. "You didn't take my word? Micah and Camilla never doubted me." "No, but they can be so naive. Claudia and I were curious. I suppose you can't help having been born on the wrong side of the blanket, but it does relieve us of some duty toward you. After all, it's only an assumption that your father is part of our family at all." Jody didn't know what to say. She couldn't argue the issue without telling Emma more than she should. She had to bite back the words. "I see you have no defense. I thought not. At any rate, you must be thinking of some other place to go. If Camilla doesn't object, I suppose you could go there. You do seem to have formed a friendship of sorts with her." "Believe me, I have no intention of staying at Whitefriars after next week." Jody fought back the tears that threatened to flow. She refused to let Emma see she was hurt. "I can hardly wait to move my things over here," Â < previous page page_358 next page >