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Sian hesitated, though She tiptoed over to check that Annette was actually there and saw the other girl's white face; a blur in the shadows Annette had her eyes shut She must have lain down fully dressed under a quilt, and she was breathing so quietly that Sian thought she ht already be asleep Well, she had had so ht have keeled over and fallen into a weary sleep Sian tiptoed back to the door and returned to her own room

She washed in the en-suite bathroohtie, a floating creation of blue satin and lace by Janet Reger She co into bed a ratefully, only to open not long after-wards when she heard a creak on the landing outside the room

Sian tensed, listening hard Another creak, the rustle of someone's clothes Was that Annette? Or was Williaoing?

In a flash, she was out of bed and across the roo outside, but she saw a shadowy moveirl; she dared not make too much noise, so she hurried silently towards the shape she saw vanishing into the next room

She caught up with hirabbed his shoulder He stiffened, spinning to face her

'Outside!' Sian hissed, her eyes on the bed Annette's face was buried in her pillo; only her hair was visible, a drift of darkness on the white sheet

Williaed at hi

'You shouldn't be in here,' she whispered 'What do you think you're doing?'

At that he strode away, and she followed, softly closing the door behind her He turned on her then, his face pale with temper

'Who the hell do you think you are, talking to me like that inthat he was like lightning ripping up the sky That was how he looked now, those grey eyes violent, his tall body vibrating with a powerful tension

'Sorry, but you asked me to look after Annette, and that's what Ishe didn't sho nervous he made her feel

'I was h his teeth

'Don't you think I've checked? If she woke up and saw you by her bed she h for one day, leave her alone' She stood outside the roo his 'Go back to bed or do I have to sit in there all night?'

He spun on his heel and walked back past her rooot to her door he suddenly caht Startled, she faced him

'What now?'