“Does my grandfather Talbot know?”
“I’m not sure what he believes. I departed soon after their marriage. It was time; I’d remained long enough that my unchanging appearance was beginning to cause remark. I claimed a son in Europe from a first wife to create an appropriate heir, as I’ve done before, and left my daughter an inheritance of all but the actual estate and its furnishings.”
“How could you leave your family?”
“It must always be so. Her mother was gone, and I’d seen her into adulthood with a husband. I’ve looked in from time to time. Does she live still?”
George was horrified. Doesn’t he keep track of his own daughter? With an effort he held his face expressionless.
“She’s becoming frail. Does she know what you are? She inherits none of your… traits?”
“I never told her—it wou
