Embrace the Night

Page 108



"Shall I wait, mademoiselle?" the driver asked.

"Yes, please. I shan't be long."

"Very well, mademoiselle." Touching his finger to his hat brim, he parked the carriage in the shade afforded by a tree a short distance away.

Lifting her skirts, Sara made her way to the front door, only to find that it was locked. Making her way to the back of the house, she peered through the broken window.

"Gabriel," she called softly. "Are you here?"

She listened a moment, and then repeated her question, a little louder. Again, no answer, only a strong impression that he was inside.

With a grimace, she gathered her skirts and climbed over the low sill, letting out a sigh of exasperation as she snagged her petticoat on a piece of glass.

And then she was inside the cottage. The absolute quiet of the place was overwhelming. Was it her imagination, or could she hear the house breathing? She was certain she could hear the hammering of her heart.

"Gabriel?"

Hardly daring to breathe, she tiptoed through the house, her apprehension growing with each step.
And then, as if drawn by a magnet, she found herself at the cellar door.

She lifted a trembling hand, intending to knock on the door, when her courage deserted her. Whatever lay behind that door, she didn't want to know.

She was about to leave when the door swung open and she found herself face to face with Gabriel.
He was not happy to see her.

" Cara, what are you doing here?"
"That's what I was going to ask you."

Gabriel crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him. Sara met his gaze and frowned. "Are you all right?"

"Fine," he replied tersely. In truth, it took a great deal of effort for him to stand there. He judged it to be mid day, when his strength was at its lowest ebb. It was possible for him to stand there now only because there was almost no light at the bottom of the stairs, and because he'd needed so badly to see her face one more time.

"Are you sure?" Sara asked doubtfully. "You look a trifle pale…"