ess like rest than surrender. Her body and min

ed the darkness. A sensation. The ghost of a touch, impossi

was pitch black, silent save for her

sted mind. She rolled over, pulling the blan

r her bed, a shado

his leaden limbs to move. To drag himself from his bed, through the unlocked co

of tears. In sleep, the iron mask of her composure had fallen away

rced upon him. The woman who had b

meant to look, but an irresistible impulse made him brush

pulling him under. His body, acting on some primal instinct, carried

e floor when Seraphina finally awoke. She felt

t bath and laid out a fresh set of clothes. Their eyes, when they looked at her, were filled with a mixture of

othe her aching muscles. The physical pain was a dull thro

uite was slightly ajar. She was sure she had closed it last ni

quiet efficiency of a ghost, had entered to collect the previous night's linens. Her eyes, shar

ely from the others, and left the room. A few minutes later, she stood before Princess Victoria i

Good," she said, her voice low. "The girl has done her duty. See that she is treated with the

lor of life and defiance. She would not hide in mourning clothes. She had paid a pr

was fastening a si

the morning room. Lady Philippa... she was asking why the new Duchess was

Seraphina's lips. The firs

iece of jewelry she owned: a diamond hair comb that had been part of h

r, the diamonds catching the m

debt. And starting today, she