A Loving Spirit by Amanda McCabe

Author:Amanda McCabe [Mccabe, Amanda]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780451208019
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2002-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

"Psst! Cassie! Are you awake?"

Cassie vaguely heard Antoinette's whispering voice through the haze of sleep. She was still muzzy-headed from the wine at Lady Paige's supper, and from the strange excitement of being carried down the road in Phillip's arms. It felt like she had only just fallen asleep, and now here was Antoinette hissing in her ear and poking at her shoulder.

She rolled over and opened one eye to peer up at Antoinette's silhouette in the darkness. "What is it? It cannot be time to get up. It's still dark outside."

"I just realized I left something in the tunnel last night when we were summoning Lady Lettice," Antoinette said. "I cannot sleep for thinking about it. I just wanted to see if you would go with me to fetch it."

"Now? It been there all this time. Can't it stay just a little longer, until morning?"

Antoinette shook her head. She wore no cap, and her long, thick mane of hair undulated in the shadows. "No, I really think I should fetch it now."

"Why do I have to go with you?"

"Because I don't want to go alone!" Antoinette burst out.

Cassie sat up at that. "You are scared," she said, amazed. She had always thought Antoinette could not be frightened of anything.

"I am not scared," Antoinette protested. "Merely—wary. I saw just how mischievous those ghosts can be tonight, when they took off with you in that carriage."

"They meant no real harm. I think they must get bored, stuck here in the castle all the time."

"Well, I don't want to be walking about by myself in the dark, anyway."

"All right, then, I will go with you. If I can come right back to bed after. I have had enough excitement for one night."

So Cassie found herself leaving her snug, warm room in the middle of the night, following Antoinette down the cliff steps to the shore. The pale silver moon was half-obscured by clouds, sending a diffuse, mysterious light across the sky. It was chilly out, but still, with no wind stirring.

She looked up at the moon and the stars, and thought how romantic it all was. How lovely it would be if Phillip was here, with his arms around her. Perhaps he would even kiss her...

"No!" she whispered, shaking her head to try to clear it of such silly thoughts. It was only the beauty of the night making her feel all romantical again. If he had not kissed her as they walked alone down the deserted lane, he never would. "I will not think of that right now."

Antoinette, several steps ahead, stopped and looked back at her. "Did you say something, Cassie?"

"No. Must be the wind," Cassie answered.

"Hmm." Antoinette walked on.

Cassie waited at the mouth of the tunnel while Antoinette went in and found her lost item. There were rustlings and knockings, and it was several moments before she emerged again, a small muslin packet clutched in her hand.

"All right, I have it now," Antoinette said. "You can go back to your bed.

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