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Alanna paused on the first step, her hand resting on the banister post "It's been a long day," she answered diffidently

There wasn't any wish froht She took note of the omission as she mounted the stairs It served to stiffen her resolve Inside her rooth of the lock, she hurried to the long dresser and began pushing it in front of the door, thankful there heels on the bottom

Feeling a littleon the bathroouests shared the saed a chair in front of it There, she thought with satisfaction, the entrances are blocked Let Rolt try to make his objections now!

Stripping, she changed into her nightgown and robe It was a clinging silk-like material, ivory with an abundance of lace about the bodice, part of the trousseau her mother had insisted she buy Alanna would have preferred her shapeless cotton gown, but wasn't about to go look for it now

Sleep was far froo near the bed She was intelligent enough to realize that her defenses weren't necessarily inable If Rolt should breach the in bed when he entered the room

Pacing restlessly, she waited Her s she would say to hi, loathsome, a contemptible beast, barbaric and cruel Alanna would remind him in vindictive terms of the way he had blackmailed her

If he dared come near her, she would bite and claw at hih her veins She was ready to do battle All her weapons were at hand, ready for use And she waited for the opportunity, her eyes sparkling, her air confident

She waited and waited and waited Ten-thirty, eleven o'clock, eleven-thirty, and still there was no siege at her door Fro out fro her , but she resolutely re tension scraped at her already raw nerves

Walking to thefor what seeainst the fra? For her to grow tired and lower her defenses?

She stared into the darkness Then, blinking in disbelief, she realized that the living roo, she faced the door

Her fingers clutched the top of the robe together She suddenly had visions of Rolt bursting through the door, laughing at the verbal abuse she hurled at hi her onto the bed Her lips could al warmth of his mouth

She thrust the ie away That would never happen Rolt would not overwhel the fury of her wrath Quickly she turned off the light, throwing the roo her breath, she listened

Rolt was at the top of the stairs andthe hall A door opened and closed—it had to be the master bedrooht beready for bed Water ran briefly, then silence

Minutes ticked by and Alanna watched the door There was absolutely no movement from the master bedrooone to bed To bed! The silent scream of frustration exploded inside her How dare he? This was their wedding night! He should be at her door! How could he go to bed! Alanna flung herself on the bed, boating the pilloith ie

Nearly an hour later she accepted the fact that Rolt had indeed gone to bed and crawled beneath the covers of her own She slept fitfully, waking at the slightest night sound, till finally, near dawn, exhaustion drugged her into a heavy sleep