tte

ng a ringing silence in its wake. E

dening cheek, her eyes wide wit

Hitting you is too good for you! You vixen, crawling out from whatever rock y

the start! A 'woman' with no past, living in my house, eating

re. The other women shrank back, terr

While Creed's own mother, Lady Beatrice, had done nothing but beli

streaming down her face, stammering, "I didn't... It's not..." Her sobs were

e, this public spectacle was ugly and

rtha," I said softly, using the affectionate name she

to a deep, aching sympathy. "Annette, my dear girl.

furious voice cut in,

had ar

ing and holding her face; his foster mother, radiating fur

her behind him protectively. Then he turned on Martha, his eyes fi

ld you strike her? Coralie is m

she wanted to save you, she wouldn't have let you steal from

know about that. "I did it of my own free will

low you to disregard Annette's feelings? Does it allow yo

gaze swung to me. "Is this what you wanted, Annette? T

had done nothing. I had tried to keep the pe

quiet. "In your eyes, no matter what h

hat I mean," he mumbled. "But you shoul

eed Wright, who brought this... this person into our home. It was you who hurt me for her, a

echless, his face a mottl

he chose her. He

usiness-like. "I will handle the matter of the cloak

I was to him. A problem

e words, he had just slammed

apped protectively around her shoulders. Th

rage, ready to go after

said, my voice we