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“He is,” Aurora confir, as a matter o

f fact He’s looking forward to —you”

“Then let’s go” Courtney shoved back the blankets and swung her legs over the side of the bed Gingerly, she stood, clutching the bedpost until her lightheadedness subsided “If you’ll helpMatilda to our plans” A tentative step, then another “She’ll hear about our excursion later, of course But we needn’t worry her in advance”

So saying, Courtney crossed the rooed open the wardrobe, her motions tentative, unsteady

Aurora watched, indecision warring on her face After aclothing fro better than to take you to the lighthouse,” she stated, fingering one of the soft owns she’d loaned Courtney “But are you sure you’re ready for this? Mr Scollard isn’t going away And you’re still so weak We could spend the day preparing for our chat with the investigator, then traipse to the lighthouse in two or three days, when you’re stronger”

Courtney’s hands balled into fists “Please don’t mollify me like a child You and I both knoe can ‘prepare,’ as you put it, in less than an hour As for waiting two or three days to visit Mr Scollard…” Her voice choked “I can’t bear lying abed, hour after hour, accosted by fear and uncertainty So, able or not, I must try Today”

Her desperation must have conveyed itself, because Aurora turned to her, brows raised, and nodded “All right Then try we shall We’ll leave the h the rear entrance That way, neither Matilda nor any of the other servants will see us—except those appointed by my brother specifically to scrutinize my actions, of course But rounds, not in the ive us no trouble; they’re quite used to hthouse”

Courtney flashed a grateful sood as attained”

An hour later, she felt otherwise

“I never i weakly against an oak tree, one that was but a third of the way to their destination, and peering across the endless acres of greenery stretching before her “We’ve been walking for an eternity” She brushed dah and shallow

“Courtney, I think we should go back” Aurora abandoned all attee of collapse Cohtly, “If you don’t care for yourself, care foryour injuries”

“You’re not responsible—I am” Courtney took another half-hearted step “As I said earlier, I’ave out and, with a broken sound, she sank to the grass

“Courtney!” Thoroughly alarmed, Aurora squatted down beside her

“I’ainst the cool ground and wishing she could just go to sleep until the weakness and dizziness faded “But I suspect…you’re right We…should return to…the manor”

That did it