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“I have a hardy constitution”

Navigating the garden at night proved hazardous Miss Atwood tripped over the protruding root of an oak tree and had no option but to hold his arht a profound sense of familiarity

The stor a suffocating tension that mirrored his internal

dile stars—their path lit by the silvery light of thethe life he kept secret

Lucius brought Miss Atwood to a halt before the lake that glistened like shiny black glass in the dark Beneath the still water lay the truth that e opinion But those keen to possess the journals wouldn’t rest until the books were burning on a bonfire

“Are we to swirassy mound in the middle of the lake

“Not in these temperatures But you will need to take my hand The stairs are steep Moss makes them slippery underfoot” He held the lantern aloft and ht of steps “This used to be an escape route for the tunnels running beneath the house”

Again she looked at him—not in the salacious o, found ue that could bring untold pleasure

She accepted his outstretched hand without hesitation, clutched his fingers tightly as they descended the worn steps With some reluctance, he released her to draw a key from his coat pocket Lucius unlocked the iron door at the bottom, locked it behind them once they had stepped into the old stone tunnel

“Is the vault located beneath the lake?” she said as they cli water must have unnerved her, as she asked, “Is it safe?”

“Your father assured me it is”

Lucius explained briefly about the design and what he knew of the castle’s history The story of a priest who hid in the tunnels for h and spent round, too

She listened with interest “Remarkable What is even e As your conquests are well noted, I assus”

That was his intention

“Miss Atwood, my work has led me to associate with certain people I would ordinarily avoid I’ht I have usedinforoal, as you will soon discover”