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“And he looked under the beds,” Alice added

Jacob scowled “Don’t tell stories, Alice You were asleep”

“But I saw hiaps between her lids to recreate the moment “I saw him stand up and brush the dust off his hands”

Jacob tutted “But you—”

“I think we’ve strayed fro to the more than to question them both about the reverend’s odd behaviour “Now, let us adjourn to the lawn for today’s lesson”

As expected the children played the part of rebels with the skill ht, when it was ti floorboards were liable to snap Nohen it was time for exercise and fresh air, it took thirty minutes for them to put on their boots

When they eventuallyback over their shoulder at the house, surveying numerous s before their eyes settled on one situated on the ground floor

“Papa is in the study” Alice pointed to the“If he sees us, he ht send us inside”

“No, he won’t” Heavens, anyone would think they were trying to avoid catching the plague “And it’s rude to point Now, hand me the scarf”

Alice dragged her gaze away from the house and handed Rose the red silk scarf It was an odd choice for a child

“It belonged to Mah she’d read Rose’s s in the trunk in our room The reverend tidied that up, too”

“No, he didn’t,” Jacob snapped

“He did when you were asleep I heard the lid creak when he opened it”

“Well, it doesn’t ers A lu that we’re using so so special to help us learn such a valuable lesson”

A faint sliver of jealousy raced through her as she held the garment in her hand It was foolish really But she couldn’t shake the i the scarf around his wife’s neck, tugging at the ends and pulling her in for a deep, passionate kiss