Embrace the Night

Page 217



on a summer day. She grew up in an orphanage. For a time, she was a prima ballerina in the Paris Opera. She gave up a brilliant career and all hopes of a family for the man she loved." He paused a moment. "She died in 1940."

"You sound as though you knew her."

He seemed to move in slow motion as he turned around to face her. "I did." "That's impossible."

A tight smile played over his lips. "Is it?"

"So," Sarah said, deciding to humor him. "Was she your slave or your equal?" "She was my wife."

Sarah frowned. "But she died more than fifty years ago."

"Yes," he said, and his eyes were bleak, as gray as a winter sky. "In Salamanca." Sarah shook her head. Maybe hewas the one who was crazy.
"I'm tired," she said. "I want to go home."

The coldness had penetrated her skin now, making her shiver in spite of the flames. She knew he was hiding something, something she didn't want to know.

Gabriel took a deep breath, held it, then let it out in a weary sigh. "You are home."

She was truly frightened now. She searched her mind, trying to remember how one was supposed to deal with a lunatic.

"I'm not insane, Sarah, and neither are you. Search your mind. Let yourself remember." "Remember what?"

"Who you are."

"I know who I am. What I don't know is who you are." "You know me, Sarah. You've always known me."

"No," she said, tears of fright stinging her eyes. "Please, just let me go home."
"I can't. I can't lose you again."

"I'm not her! My name is Sarah Lynn Johnson. My eyes are brown, not blue. And I've never been to England or France or Spain."

"You were born crippled," he said. "I came to you at the orphanage. I read to you. I held you in my arms and we danced around the room. I took you to the opera…"