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“Miss Asprey?” The figure called out to her as he stu the path “Is … is that you, hed and spluttered “God damn”

Despite her fear, Rose stepped forward to help hi hold of his scrawny arm, she assisted him to his feet From the black marks on his face and the stench of smoke on his clothes, he must have come from the manor

“Can you forgive a man for his stupidity?” His breath smelt like rotten meat mixed with claret The man’s bloodshot eyes and skeletal features would have scared the Devil away “I should not have left you in there to perish Thank the Lord you escaped”

She’d never set eyes on the ain, he did seem delirious

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else, sir” Rose batted the fellow’s hand away from her arm “Have you escaped the fire at the manor?”

“Fire?” He appeared dazed, unsteady on his feet “Oh, the fire, yes” A length of spittle hung fro left you know But what a clever dove you are”

Clearly, the rasp of his faculties Trauma did that to a person, made them lose all hold on reality

“Was there anyone else with you at the manor?”

“Only you, ain” In a rasped a lock of her hair

“Ow! Let o Have you lost your mind?”

He exaold as the sun, not red as fire”

The man spoke in riddles If the manor accepted patients, he would be a pri about? Release me at once”

“Wait! You’re nota firm hold of her hair, he turned and scanned the woods “Miss Asprey? Miss Asprey, are you out there?”

Rose tried to prise his bony fingers apart but to no avail But then the sound of snapping twigs caught her attention

“Listen Do you hear ed Rose’s hair until her head almost touched her knees