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"Yes, a daughter who died very young."

"Before she could lose her virginity. then," Cinnamon concluded.

"I don't know. She just said I should..."

"What?" Rose blurted. impatient.

"Stay a virgin for as long as I could."

I shot a quick glance at Rose and Cinnamon. They were both quiet, both looking at me with wonder and confusion. "Why?" Cinnamon finally asked.

I shrugged.

"She said it gave me a certain... she spoke French..."

"Savoir faire?" Rose asked.

"No." Cinnamon said for me. "I'd think it would be just the opposite." She thought a moment. "Je ne sais quoi?"

"Yes, that's it."

"A certain something, indescribable, but there." Cinnamon said. She became very thoughtful a moment. She looked at Rose. "I guess you and I are damaged goods, and in her eves don't have that special something."

"She didn't say that," I quickly reported. "Whatever it is might not be important for what you do. In her way of thinking, at least. I still don't understand it."

"What's she going to do, check you out every week to see if you're still pure?" Cinnamon asked bitterly.

"That woman scares me." Ice said. "How could she look at her and say that?"

Cinnamon smirked.

"Our Honey here doesn't exactly radiate sexual sophistication."

She stared at me a moment and then asked. "What are you going to do if your boyfriend wants to make love-- tell him it's bad for your career?'

"I don't know. I'm confused."

"Talk about invading someone's space. Maybe she's just weird. Maybe she's lost it since her daughter's death or something. Maybe we're coming to this school too late." Cinnamon rattled off.

Everyone was lost in her own thoughts for a while.

Then Ice turned her head to the side and said. "Well, look atthat."

"What?" Cinnamon said, her voice testy. I really regretted revealing what Madame Senetsky, had said to me now.

Ice nodded at the rear of the mansion. From where we sat, we could see it well.

"What?" Rose asked. squinting. The sunlight was reflecting off windows and the walls.

"That door. It's all barred up. It looks like a prison door or something," Ice said.

"Yes, it does," Cinnamon agreed. "Let's take a closer look."

She started across the grass. Rose and Ice following. I got up and joined them. As we drew closer, it was clear it was a heavily barred door. The windows in the rear looked barred as well.

"Some security," Rose said.

"Why?" Cinnamon turned around. "Look at this place, with its high gate, its video security and alarms. It's not exactly a burglar's dream.'