To speak with her late into the night. To kiss and to
touch, her..... The door was ajar.
The room was empty. She was gone.
An old peasant woman was making up the bed. He wasted little time on
her. "Where is my sister?" he demanded.
Her eyes narrowed at this. But after a moment's pondering, she seemed
to understand doubly. "Ah. She and her guardian have been moved to
other quarters."
"What
other quarters?"
"I'm sure I don't know, sir."
"What do
you know!" he cried angrily.
"Only it was the Lieutenant as took `em, and that he was none too
gentle." And she turned away, concealing her purpose, as ever.
Stephen stormed out of the room, blind with rage. Those who passed him
in the hallway drew back as from a fire. Even those servants of long
standing. . .none had seen him in a state like this.
He entered the banquet hall just as the Earl and his entourage were
leaving. The withered Arthur nodded stiffly in greeting, but Stephen
never saw him. His eyes knew the presence of one man only, and that
man stood at the head of an emptying table.
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