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"Thank you, Siebert"

Aurora exploded into the sitting room like a cannon "We found the…"

"My God, what happened to you?" Slayde de at his sister "Were you in an accident?"

"What?" Confused, Aurora followed Slayde's gaze, realizing for the first tiown"

"Torn your gown?" Slayde was still gaping "Aurora, you're covered with dirt, your gown and mantle are shredded, and you have scratches all over your arms What in the hell went on at Morland?"

"Your ingenious sister figured out the location of this—that's ent on," Julian supplied, flourishing the strongbox as he entered the room

"It was at Morland Manor?" Courtney exclaiht on the sofa

"In a " Julian proceeded to fill thebox and its contents

"Well," Courtney oing to have to pore over Jaain"

"I'll begin tonight," Julian qualified at once "Slayde, you're welco to bed"

Aurora's head shot up "Not I," she protested "Courtney needs her rest But…"

"Aurora—" Julian held up his pal as it had been in the inn when he'd demanded she let him speak with Stone in private "You haven't eaten since breakfast You're pale, covered in scratches, and swaying on your feet In short, you're exhausted There are hundreds of books in that library It's doubtful Slayde and I will discover anything over the next few hours If we do, I'll awaken you I'ue with o to sleep"

"Very well" Norress But if there was anything she wanted equally as h those books, it was the chance to talk to Courtney Further, Julian was right She felt unusually weak and her head was pounding painfully—al upon her all at once "I'll rest—for a while"

She retired to her old roos of supper, soaked in a hot tub, then slipped into her nightrail and wrapper and padded down the hall to Courtney's bedchamber

Tentatively she knocked