Cleopatra had only been eleven then, and she had mistakenly killed her kitten. In fear that her mother would think she was a monster, she hid the dead cat in her trunk.
She grew quiet and withdrawn because of the guilt, and one day, she strolled into Lucretia's chambers and confessed. "It is not your fault," was all Lucretia said to her.
"There is this man I like," she started. "I have done everything in my power to make him fall for me, but he chose another over me."
Lucretia put the brush down and turned Cleopatra to face her. "Is he a prince or a lord?"
"He is none of those things. But I love him, mother, I really do."
"My child, listen. Love is of no consequence. Wealth and power, that is all that matters. If he does not have these two things, then move on. He is not worth your time."
