with moisture, and the fog hadn't yet lifted from the hills. Mira moved through the halls like a ghost, he
Thor
uest before the fire. Be
hame the famil
d since the fire. Dust covered the pews like frost. Light slanted throug
rning," he said without looking at her.
ho
to work in the house when she was a girl.
n eyebrow. "Y
ut I trust what ti
rsed. She looked at Thornwick Hall as if it were cursed.
a little ti
oint. "Do you remember a
man hesita
happened to him connects to the fire. And to
hands trembled
eak his name. They told us he d
rward. "Then w
oice dropped
e. He was... in love with someone else. Someone they thought improper.
d. "You don't know w
was sealed. No one ever went
ed. "Until
omas-your brother, miss carrying a set of keys. T
ira with someth
e found As
way near the western tower was colder, darker. Most of the doors hadn't been opened in
d the keyhole. The
ppeared, carrying
s old desk," he sa
d in with a
oom was perfe
ill open. And on the wall, a portrait unfinished. The face was gentle, youthful
k. "Drawings," he said. "Of the
th dark hair. Stern mouth. Watchin
noblewoman,"
"That's Marin Th
t the ro
ridor, she saw the housekeeper, Heddi
voice steady. "You
't flinch. "I was he
t you say
servant who spoke the truth was sent away. Your brother t
Aster?"
," she said softly.
"Then what hap
ked her in
d to live as someone else. Someone quie
pped into the co
ho is h
e hes
a grim brea
ck is not who he says h
is A