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"Honoria!" Sarah exclai for you through theWhere have you been? I have been frantic We were just about to send out a party to search for you You said you were going off to collect flowers, but then you never returned"

Honoria tried to interrupt between each of Sarah’s sentences, but she only h of her breath to say, "Stop" She looked down; pools of water had formed at her feet One rivulet had broken free of the circle and was slowly rolling toward the wall

"We need to dry you off," Sarah said She took Honoria’s hands "You’re freezing"

"Sarah, stop" Honoria pulled Sarah’s hands free and grabbed hold of her cousin’s shoulder "Please I need some paper I one mad

"Now I have to – "

"Lady Honoria!" Mrs Royle hurried into the hall "You had us all so worried! Where on earth did you go off to?"

"I was just looking for flowers," Honoria lied, "but please, I need to write a letter"

Mrs Royle felt her forehead "You don’t feel feverish"

"She’s shivering," Sarah said She looked at Mrs Royle "She ot lost She’s terrible that way"

"Yes, yes," Honoria said, willing to agree with any insult if it would only mean the end of this conversation "But please, just listen to me for a moment I must act quickly Lord Chatteris is stranded in the woods, and I told him I would – "

"What?" Mrs Royle screeched "What are you talking about?"

Briefly, Honoria related the story she’d concocted while hurrying horoup and lost her way Lord Chatteris had been walking in the woods He had told her that the path went back and forth between the two properties Then he’d twisted his ankle

It washim back here," Mrs Royle said "I will send someone at once"

"No," Honoria said, still a bit out of breath "He wants to go home He asked me to send word to the head of his stables He told me exactly what to say"

"No," Mrs Royle said firmly "I think he should co, he is stranded out there in the rain"