AN ETERNAL LOVE

And Adira suddenly found herself twisted backward and held in Allison's small but strong arms. She felt heat tear through her body at Allison's first touch, as if lightning had struck her. And then Adira's own dagger was wrested from her hand and held to her heart, and Adira cried out, certain her life was about to end.

Allison got her face close to Adira's ear, and whispered, "First lesson, Adira. Trust no one."

Adira shuddered at the familiarity of those words, the way they echoed what her mother had written to her. And then she released Adira and gently pressed her weapon back into her hand as her heart thundered against her ribs.

"I would say, Adira, that it is a very good thing I was the first to find you," Allison said.

"You weren't," Adira told her. "Another one... a man, attacked me before I left England."

"And you defeated him?" Allison's golden brown eyes were wide then with disbelief.

Ashamed, Adira lowered her head. "I escaped him. Barely."

"You survived," Allison told her. "There is no shame in living to fight another day, Adira. Come now, and take me to your home. I will be needing a place to stay, and also a silly dress so I can pass as one of them."

Allison expected her hospitality? After what she had just done?

Smiling, Allison glanced at her dagger. "You can put that away, Adira. It will do you little good, anyway, up until I have taught you to use it properly."

to

Allison's smile grew wider as she nodded her approval. "Very good, Adira. You are a fast learner. You always

would you know that?" Adira asked, studying her

what you have been through, having to flee for your life, start over, you would almost have to be a fast learner, wouldn't you?"

choice but to

**********

turned, and paced again. The

her body crashing toward the ground and then stopping short at the end of that rope. The way she had jerked at the bottom. The way her head snapped. And the way

been

fire he

of God, he would tell what he knew. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. No, if he spoke out, she would be arrested. Harmed, killed, perhaps. He could not

on him? Willed him to feel these things for her?

he opened the door before old Alex Davies could announce his presence. The man's face seemed grim. He said, "We have to talk. There is... something

distracted from thinking about her. Seeing her again--God, he was bordering on obsession now that he had seen her.

had not intended to trouble you with this, Reverend Walter, but upon seeing you in the

Mistress Thompson,

hands behind him, began pacing much as Damien had been doing only moments ago. "Reverend... I fear the woman is trouble," he said. "You recall