Page 73 (1/2)

He didn’t knock, just flung open the door His strength was greater than he had thought, or he was ainst a chest of drawers, causing theframes to rattle, a lamp to totter and several papers to flutter to the floor

Meg was seated behind her solid, functional desk—nothing spindly and decorative for her She held a pen in one hand, and the other was raised to her lips, while her blue eyes were big and anxious, and fixed on him

“Gregor?” she de?”

He cursed hi her so Of course, she would think he had coive her bad news, that Abercauldy was at the door with a hundred of hisIn an attehastly

In contrast, she looked beautiful Her re always struck his Her shtful gap between her teeth

“Gregor? Can you answer me?”

“There’s nothing wrong, morvoren I wanted to see you I’”

Meg blinked, once, twice, clearly thinking him quite mad, and then she set down her pen He noticed she had e She cleared her throat, and he could see by the color slowly cli into her cheeks that she wasn’t as happy to see him as he was to see her

“I asked not to be disturbed”

“Och, but surely when you gave those orders you dinna ?” he said, with pretended surprise

Her ht line She gave hi serious Shehere, where he had never been before In her sanctuary Perhaps this is a day, thought Gregor, for doing things they had never done before

Gregor smiled and closed the door softly behind him

Meg looked panicked “Gregor, I don’t—”

“You have a se of ink on your face”

She stared at him, frowned, and put her hand up to her cheek “Have…have I?”