After dinner, Delphine would take a half-hour walk. The surrounding area was a cultural preservation district—not crowded, and the environment was exceedingly tranquil.
This three-story villa, surrounded by lush trees that created a canopy overhead, was where Ignatius Leclair came looking for her. Delphine had turned on the light on the porch and was sitting in the sofa chair beneath the flowering trees, reading a book.
The man approached directly and said gravely, "Delphine."
Ignatius Leclair's expression was unusually serious, his phoenix-shaped eyes dark and deep. Seeing her look up, he spoke in a low tone: "There's something I need you to tell Leah. But when I say it, don't get too emotional."
Delphine's face subtly changed. She set down the book, stood up, and asked, "What happened?"
