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"The Alderood, however, he desires that others in the abbey believe that you never went to Winterrowd Your co since you left Neither she nor you have been seen since the day you ran away Whatever you speak of together, for I know you share certain secrets, we cannot prevent But you e Is that clear, child? The less others know, the better"
"I will obey the Aldermaston’s wishes," Lia said
"I hope so," he answered "That has not always been easy for you" Prestwich turned to the open Leering Beyond was another cellar and a circle of light shone co from the chamber above Even fro under her breath
"Fits and stones, she should be here by now! Where is that nasty Prestwich? He is taking his oeet tiht to…is that you? Prestwich, do you have her?"
"She is with me even now," he replied and motioned for Lia to take the ladder first
Lia’s heart was nearly bursting She cli down her burdens as she cleared the top, and Pasquathat crushed her breath away Soas there also, tears gleaain! Oh Lia – oh h to squeeze tears from her eyes "Oh Lia – thank Iduainst Lia’s shoulder, squeezing her harder and harder Lia was surprised by her reaction, at the violence of her feelings Pasqua hugged her tightly, swaying back and forth "Never leave us like that again, child Please…you do not know my poor heart How I have suffered for you How I have worried about you" She pressed Lia’s cheeks with her hands and kissed her head "I nearly broketo hunt after you!"
"She did," Sowe said, tears spilling down her lashes "And I had to nurse her"
"Pasqua," Lia said, then stopped, choking on the words "Sowe"
Pasqua took her hands next and kissed them "No, child No – let me speak You cannot understandstill But some day, you will be a mother, and you will understand then So be still Let me speak Let me say what I should have said all these years I have loved you like a daughter, though I never told you" Her hands clenched tightly "As if you were hter My own flesh When you left, and I had not told you, I thought as if the pain would kill me Dear child – I have loved you since you were a babe Since the day the Medium left you here Thank Idumea you have come home You are hoirl was pulled violently into the ehters My sweet daughters!"
Lia could not see for the tears blinding her eyes, but she hugged Pasqua and thought her heart would break with so reeted her with a smile of affection and then turned to shut the door behind her, leaving Pasqua and Sowe in the corridor beyond "I will only be ait closed
He walked back to his stuffed chair and eased himself into it A to beneath it Part of the page ritten on The other part was clean and unblenized it as Maderos’ toravely voice so fa me to return, Aldermaston," she whispered, uncertain where she stood in his eyes The reunion with Pasqua and Sowe had altered her heart in sos were like a stew kettle bubbling over She could not stop fidgeting with her hands
The Alder with the effort "I am pleased youwith tears again "I did But I am sorry about Jon Hunter You do not kno sorry I arimaced, as if the pain were still too raw for him as well "What is done is done I cannot hold you accountable for his death, Lia That would be unfair I sent him, so I alone bear that bla to rectify that concern when I received the earl of Forshee’s e Do not burden yourself with it It was all the Medium’s will, surely" He brushed his eyes, whether from tears or dust, but she could see the pain in his expression "It will be no greater s us into another world to live forever with our dearest friends than that which has brought us into this one to live a lifetime with them Or almost a lifetime Therefore, hen they depart But ill see theain in another world" A tear ran down his cheek