r than it used to be. Or

the stuff of her dress as she looked around the room. The candles were dimmed

o quiet. T

Not to touch, not to spea

aid, his voice cutting through

't turn i

said, trying to m

moment o

an option

r. Of course it wasn't. Nothi

, and his eyes were fixed upon her--not cold, not warm, but probing, as t

leep with you,

the air, bold and dangerous

a little, and looked at her. N

her chin defiantl

, thick and heavy. Then

reath

ueen, said he.

to the verge of the bed, against which t

e would not show it. King Augustine halt

all, he said

estions, she replied, an

h his face--interest, not

there. Naturally Ella noticed, and the dist

r breath stilled. He was not reaching towa

to make space. It was a spontaneous, unthought m

llow right away. Instead,

ke you were depending

id before she co

s time, as she had told too much. The ey

ting," he

She had made a mistake, and he

time. She had no farther to go; the b

arer. She choked as his fingers brushed he

I said to myself, sh

the sort she might have displayed, but the s

he said, her voice even i

came a little nearer. Not touching, yet to

oppressive and inevita

aid slowly, "then you will have

nge. A pe

the hand of King Augustine fell

she was more surprised th

n Ella didn't relax. She could not, as this was not su

notice. The light filled the

, making the room as bright as possible in an instant, almost

ask. Of course Augustine noticed. His gaze

like the lig

her hand drop. I

you fear wha

y nothing. Since this was the first time she felt ob

door was closed behind them. There was a silence, but it wa

ard the window. But she had heard otherwise. He was wa

ike a person who is

d motionless. Sh

ost

ot the

her p

re not." he

er--not of comfort, not of fear, but of so

this night was supposed to mean. Ella hesitated, and then sat on th

o the other side. Not nearer, not thrusting anything--just. there. T

y to him, her eyes open although she was still. She didn't trust him.And yet. he had not forcibly taken her, had not touched

. Why? Why should a man whom

hind her--slow, carefu

e said quietly. It

la didn't

. A stop, and--becaus

ain. And what have you been

voice was nearer, d

not what you

caught in abso

ee you, he said,

he sheets. Stay calm. Stay composed. Do not react. But h

hind her, close enough for her to

ence, heavy and inevit