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Dusk was giving way to darkness when they approached the twin crests flanking their goal

Coh the hills to the taller peak beyond and beheld the shadowy outlines of the hedges loo before her She shivered—whether froht air, she wasn't certain

"Are you all right?" Julian asked, drawing heran answer, he shrugged out of his coat, wrapping it about her for added warmth "Better?"

"You'll freeze," she protested

"Not a chance" He flashed her that devastating grin "I promise Besides, you can warm me later—at the sa her to the base of the hill they sought

Aurora caught her breath as Julian held up the lantern and scanned the hedges for an opening

His answer ca directly before them

"There," Julian proclai the shadowy cavern with a triumphant flourish "That's it, soleil We've found it" His forear Aurora's immediate—and anticipated—rush forward "Wait Give lance over this sketch It will be dark in that cave—very dark 'Tis best if I get s before we enter, lantern or not"

Inized the prudence of her husband's actions Forcing herself to stay still, she peered over Julian's shoulder, channeling her i productive "Let ator But it can't hurt for us both to have a sense of where we're headed"

"Good idea" Julian lowered the drawing so they could both see it, angling the lantern to ht "For the first tirounds of Morland Manor," he muttered

"You don't need to be" Aurora's forefinger traced the portion of the sketch depicting the area where they stood "Geoffrey's drawing is very straightforward These are the hedges closest to the es sprawl back into a maze of sorts"

"The gardens are here, to the right," Julian concurred "To the left are the tenants' quarters, the carriage house, and the stables"

"And look what's just behind the stables," Aurora exclaie, one se one is merely labeled 'livestock' But the ss'" Aurora raised ebullient eyes to her husband "And we all knohat hunting dogs pursue"

"Foxes" Julian gave his wife a quick, hard hug before turning back to the sketch, scrutinizing the area surrounding the sht here, alongside the dwelling That's it, Rory—that's e're looking for" Swiftly Julian reviewed the route they needed to take, co to memory the curves and bends in the path

"Now can we go?" Aurora de from one foot to the other