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In the month it took Elise to reach Liverpool, she learned to cook, drive a wagon, and become independent She danced when they found an audience, and always she danced only for Sterling

She kneatched her froht shadows They were connected in a way only lovers understood Mind, body, and spirit Today Dawn rode with her as they approached the outskirts of Liverpool

"Philip says you will leave us now," Dawn said, her young face soleht of tears "I will go, but only because if I leave, Sterling ht return He needs a family to watch over him"

"I promise to love hiht ood exaood exareed "I will try to be more like theirl had found the value of love, just as Elise told Sterling she would do

"I predict you will be a fine lady soht, you know," she teased

"I&039; to be a veil dancer like you," Dahispered "But I haven&039;t told my parents yet"

Elise would like to be around when Dawn did She smiled; then her smile faded as Liverpool came into view Her valise was packed, and she still had the coin to hire herself a hackney to take her to her aunt&039;s address Her adventures were over

Once the wagons halted near an inn, Elise steeled herself for the sorrowful good-byes Sarah actually cried over her Philip told her that if things did not work out with her aunt, she always had a ho them Dawn had disappeared, and Elise was thankful She couldn&039;t bear to say good-bye to her

Sporting her best outfit, Elise waved good-bye It was strange to again be in a city, where life tea at a fast pace, where people passed on the streets with no time to look around The house the driver stopped in front of was in need of repair Elise vaguely remembered it from her childhood visits The woman who answered her knock did not look familiar

"Aunt Silvie?" Elise ventured skeptically

The old wo for Silvie Preston She&039;s been dead now for going on five years I bought the house after her passing"

Elise was shocked Her aunt dead? Elise had hardly known the wohout the years Her uncle must have surely known her aunt had passed, and he hadn&039;t told her He&039;d kept the truth from her as if her aunt&039;s death were of no consequence How she hated him in thatdown her cheeks, Elise walked back to the waiting hackney There was only one thing she could do: return to the caravan She couldn&039;t say that she wasn&039;t pleased to see her faain or that she wasn&039;t welcomed ho He&039;d no doubt be wondering why she had left, only to return But would he have the courage to confront her for answers? Yes, she believed he would

While she waited, Elise prepared for the co performance She dressed in her costume, then sat to wait for Dawn to co appeared Her heart leaped with joy to see him He did not look all that pleased to see her

"Why aren&039;t you with your aunt?" he deht "I have learned today that one, and never a word of it fro&039;s expression softened "I&039;ed

He shtly "You were never one to reed "And I won&039;t start now Why are you here?"

He closed the door behind him "To see you safely into another life"

She lifted a brow "In this world, or in the next?"

Sterling threw back his head and laughed It was good to see hih He needed her to lighten his darkness If only she could convince him He sobered a moment later

"The road is no place for a woman without a mate to protect her"

Her ared for his kisses She had learned to be brave, to go after what she sought in life "I have a mate," she said "Even if he refuses to h, half-caress "You and I both knoe could never live a norether"

She took a step toward him "I never said that I wanted a normal life I want the life of an adventurer, remember?"

"Don&039;t," he warned when she took another step toward hiht is not the night to te, Elise stepped up close to him "I am not afraid of you I know that you would not harm me, or any person that you care about"

"But I do not know that, Elise," he stressed "I won&039;t take that chance I cannot"

Gently she touched his face "You oodness"

For a ht he would kiss her; then a knock sounded upon the door Elise peeked out and san

"Philip says I&039;m to rouse everyone," she said, then stretched her neck to see past Elise "Is Sterling with you?" Her eyes brightened "He is here"

Sterling sirl "Hello, Dawn"

"I knew you&039;d coirl said "Philip says no matter how different we ether, we are a fa&039;s silver eyes ood man," he admitted "But aren&039;t you afraid of me, Dawn?"

She shook her blond head "Not if Elise isn&039;t She and I are best friends, you know?"

"Elise is a good friend to have"

Again Elise&039;s and Sterling&039;s gazes locked

"I hope you&039;ll stay with us," Dawn said, breaking the spell "You and Elise together, as part of our fairl&039;s hair He did not co Still, Dawn so," he said abruptly

"Not yet," Elise pleaded "Stay and watch me dance I&039;ll tell Philip I want to perforht falls"

"I like to watch you dance," Sterling ad for me alone"