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She threaded her arh his They followed the path around the peri out from the ballroom became quieter, less of a din

“The living ,” she said, “but at least one can form a rational opinion of what they see With the dead, one cannot apply the saled to find an explanation for what she had witnessed “I saw an ie of a wo corridor, pointed her bony finger at et out’ I buried e to look up she was gone Suppressing all fear and by sheer strength of will, I took a candlestick in hand and wandered down the empty corridor I checked all the rooms but found no one”

Tristan inhaled deeply “That does not host Theon bouts of melancholy One’s mood can affect one’s interpretation”

Was he i?

“What, you believe ile emotions played some part in how I perceived the situation?”

He glanced heavenward “Look up at the sky and tell me what you see Be specific, detailed”

Isabella stared at him for a moment It was an odd request But he had listened patiently to her story, and so she chose to afford him a similar courtesy

She glanced up at the night sky but struggled to concentrate knowing he atching her “The sky is dark,” she began

“Be more specific Describe exactly what you see”

“Very well” She huffed as she craned her neck “I see a cold black canopy I see a … a crescent moon shaped like a farmer’s scythe: pointed, sharp, the blade a perfect arch I see bright stars s clouds”

When she lowered her gaze, he was facing her

“Then you see sadness and despair,” he said, his sorrowful tone evoking those feelings “Our perception can alter our view of reality Your mind has convinced you that there are evil spirits at work, and so everything you see is twisted in order to confirm and support your theory”

She shook her head “But what of the ite table? What of the ails that wake ht? What of the hound? I lie hidden behind the bed drapes iht beyond I know if I find the courage to venture to the , the beast will be sitting on the grass staring up at aze will lock with rowls”

“Isabella” He put a hesitant hand to her cheek Her throat grew tight, the lue she could hardly breathe It took a tremendous effort not to close her eyes and take comfort from his touch “I would lay odds the servants are responsible for the pilfering No doubt the dog belongs to a local farhost is not responsible for causing your anxiety But if one considers your husband’s death, coupled with these odd events, then the obvious conclusion is that someone did intentionally cause him harm”

“Andrew thought so, too Now he is dead”