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Keeping to the wall, she walked past the row of chairs, heading for the back of the rooed her

"My grandfather would have liked that," he said, his voice low so as not to disturb the reading of A Christlanced past Luke, then searched the rooave hi to check on the ballroom Make certain it’s ready"

But once she was in the foyer, she didn’t take the hallway that would lead to the large ballroom She took the one that led to the library She hesitated at the door because of the memories that rested beyond it, especially the ray, rainy day so long ago But she wanted to remember it, to remember him

She opened the door, walked in, and quietly closed it behind her Several laarden The curtains were drawn back and at thestood Sterling, gazing out, his hands behind his back Glancing over his shoulder at her, he bestowed a half s so hard that she feared he’d hear it As sedately as she could, she walked over to stand beside hie snowflakes were slowly drifting down

"It started snowing We stopped to assist soe That’s the reason I was late"

"I’ up there until I saw you"

"I can’t believe you have Charles Dickens here to give a reading I suppose you an introduced us Mr Dickens was researching life in the rookeries, so he interviewed some of us To hear him tell it, he put us in his stories, but I don’t see the similarities"

"I’ve not read the tale Perhaps I’ll hire so still causes your head to ache?"

"Worse than ever So how is Peter? Did you find a family for him?"

"No, actually, I’ve decided that he shall stay withto keep that pro to have a se built on the land and we’ll reside there He’ll be the son I shall never have"

"Surely, Swindler will give you children"

"I’ toto He knohat the ansill be I don’t love him in that manner It would be very unfair to hi him, hold him close Instead she took a deep breath "So how have you been?"

Finally he faced her, and she was able to gaze into those beautiful blue eyes that had haunted her drea about theand how easily you lifted my timepiece," he said far too quietly