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As Gabriel had predicted, a storh and furious, as it wrestled with trees and flung stray twigs and branches in every direction The house, built low and sturdy to acco off sheets of rain from its oak-timbered roof Still, the sound of thunder own and a plain flannel wrap, its sides folded around the front and tied with a plaited belt Although she’d wanted to wear a day dress, there had been no way to avoid the nightly ritual of bathing and taking her hair doithoutIda suspicious

Her feet were tucked into the Berlin wool slippers Cassandra hadof the pattern, had resulted in two different sizes The slipper for the right foot was perfect, but the left one was loose and floppy Cassandra had been so apologetic that Pandora hadthey were the most comfortable slippers everout to graze it with her fingertips The darker her surroundings, the worse her equilibriu to match up hat her body told her At certain ht all abruptly switch places for no reason, leaving her flailing She had always relied on Cassandra to help her if they had to go soht, but she couldn’t very well ask her twin to escort her to an illicitwith effort, Pandora stared fixedly at the hushed a stretched like a black ocean between her and the fa lit candle far out in front of her, she took one step after another, straining to see through the shadows Ahad been left open soainst her face and across her bare ankles, as if the house were breathing around her

A , soirls ere not wallflowers But this was an exercise into keep her balance in the darkness All she wanted was to be safe in bed

As she stepped forward, the loose slipper on her left foot flopped just enough toto her knees Soed to catch her balance, but the candleholder flew out of her hand The as instantly extinguished as it hit the floor

Gasping, disoriented, Pandora stood engulfed in darkness She didn’t dare ers spread like cat’s whiskers Shadow-currents flowed around her, gently pushing her off balance, and she stiffened against their intangible momentum

"Oh, damn," she whispered Icy sweat broke out on her forehead as she worked to think past the first rush of panic

The as on her left side She had to reach it She needed stability But the first cautious step made the floor drop froonal tilt She staggered and landed on the floor with a heavy thudor was it the wall? Was she leaning upright or lying down? Leaning, she decided She was ainst a hard surface Yes, that was the floor Pressing her das to sort the in her left ear

There were too many heartbeats in her chest She couldn’t breathe around thee, dark forainst the wall

"Pandora" A pair of hard arms closed around her She quivered as she heard Gabriel’s low voice, and felt herself wrapped in the reassurance of his body "What happened? My God, you’re shaking Are you afraid of the dark? The stor murmurs into her hair "Easy Softly, now You’re safe in irl" He had discarded his black formal coat, and the turndown collar of his shirt had been unfastened She could s of starched linen and the hint of cigar srance washer shiver in relief

"II dropped my candle," she wheezed

"Don’t worry about that" One of his hands curved around the back of her neck, fondling gently "Everything’s all right now"

Her heart began tothean to dissipate But as her alarm faded, a hideous tide of embarrassht rendezvous so terribly

"Feeling better?" he asked, one of his hands sliding down to enfold hers in a reassuring grasp "Come with me to the family parlor"

Pandora wanted to die She didn’t move, only let out a defeated breath "I can’t," she blurted out

"What is it?" caentle question

"I can’t move at all I lose ain, and he kept the moment "Put your arms around my neck," he eventually said After she obeyed, he lifted her easily, clasping her high against his chest

Pandora kept her eyes closed as he carried her along the hallway He was strong and superbly coordinated, sure-footed as a cat, and she felt a pang of envy She couldn’t reht, fearing nothing

The family parlor was lit only by a fire in the hearth Gabriel went to a low, deeply upholstered empire sofa with a curved back and arms, and settled with her in his lap Her pride objected feebly to the way he was holding her, as if she were a frightened child But his hard chest was co, and his hands slowly chased the nervous treh her li she’d ever known She needed this Just for a few minutes