for Lucy to live elsewhere, I will explain the situation to her.â
He turned from the fire. He appeared worried and exhausted. âI donât want Lucy to think you had anything to do with my decision.â
He took Savannahâs hands and squeezed them. âI donât want Lucy to be angry with you,â he said in a ragged voice. âI donât want you to die next.â
Chapter
30
A few nights later Savannah sat at the dressing table in her room, getting ready for bed. She slowly ran her brush through her blond hair.
She had not seen Lucy since the night they returned from the wedding. Lucy claimed she was unwell and needed to rest.
I miss Victoria, Savannah thought. Each morning she walked to Victoriaâs grave and placed fresh roses next to her sisterâs headstone.
She couldnât stop thinking about the horrible fight with her sister. Over and over again she saw the madness in Victoriaâs eyes, the glint of the sharp knife.
There is nothing else you could have done, she assured herself for the hundredth time. Victoria was about to kill Tyler.
Savannah leaned over and blew out the candle. Shadows swallowed the room. The only light came from the small fire in the hearth.
She rose from the chair and strolled over to the window. The garden was black. So black.
As she turned from the window, a flash of light caught her eye. She peered down and saw a torch moving around on the grounds. Tyler must be taking a late walk, she thought.
Savannah understood his restlessness. He had so much on his mind these days. He would be sending Lucy away soon, and Savannah knew that troubled him.
I hope he doesnât stay out too long, Savannah thought. She padded across the cold stone floor and slipped beneath the quilts on her bed. She snuggled down deeper and closed her eyes. But sleep would not come.
I wish I could think of a way to help Tyler, Savannah thought. She rolled over onto her side.
What was that? Savannah sat up. She thought she heard the door slam downstairs. It must be Tyler, she thought. She slid out of bed and crept to the window. She could no longer see the torch.
She heard another sound and froze.
The sound of tiny footsteps.
Running.
Running across stone.
Lucy?
Bang! Savannahâs door flew open.
Lucy stood on the threshold, breathing heavily, her cheeks a fiery red.
The flames from the hearth were reflected in her glittering black eyes.
She stared at Savannah.
And then she began to laugh hysterically.
âI know the truth!â she called out in a singsong voice. âI know the truth!â
Chapter
31
L ucy spun around and dashed out the door.
Oh, no! Savannah thought. Lucy knows she is being sent away from Blackrose Manor.
Lucy liked to hide in the shadows. Lucy liked to learn secrets.
Tyler! I must warn Tyler. Who knows what Lucy will try to do to him!
Savannah rushed across the room to the dressing table and grabbed a candle. She lit it in the fireplace and hurried out of the room. Where could Lucy have gone? I must find Tyler first, she decided. Then we can both worry about finding Lucy.
Savannah walked down the hallway until she reached the stairs. The stone felt freezing against her bare feet. Savannah shivered.
I must find Tyler. Savannah scurried down thestairs. The candle flame danced wildlyâthen died. Throwing Savannah into darkness.
She froze. There are candles in the parlor, she told herself. I just have to get down the rest of the stairs and into the parlor.
Savannah stepped down. Her foot landed on the edge of the next step. She tripped. And felt herself falling. Falling headfirst down the hard stone stairs.
Chapter
32
S avannah landed at the bottom of the staircase. In a daze she realized she had fallen on something soft. Something warm.
A body!
Savannah scrambled away from it. She peered through the darkness. Lucy. Itâs Lucy.
Savannah cautiously reached out and shook the girl gently. âLucy?â
No
He turned from the fire. He appeared worried and exhausted. âI donât want Lucy to think you had anything to do with my decision.â
He took Savannahâs hands and squeezed them. âI donât want Lucy to be angry with you,â he said in a ragged voice. âI donât want you to die next.â
Chapter
30
A few nights later Savannah sat at the dressing table in her room, getting ready for bed. She slowly ran her brush through her blond hair.
She had not seen Lucy since the night they returned from the wedding. Lucy claimed she was unwell and needed to rest.
I miss Victoria, Savannah thought. Each morning she walked to Victoriaâs grave and placed fresh roses next to her sisterâs headstone.
She couldnât stop thinking about the horrible fight with her sister. Over and over again she saw the madness in Victoriaâs eyes, the glint of the sharp knife.
There is nothing else you could have done, she assured herself for the hundredth time. Victoria was about to kill Tyler.
Savannah leaned over and blew out the candle. Shadows swallowed the room. The only light came from the small fire in the hearth.
She rose from the chair and strolled over to the window. The garden was black. So black.
As she turned from the window, a flash of light caught her eye. She peered down and saw a torch moving around on the grounds. Tyler must be taking a late walk, she thought.
Savannah understood his restlessness. He had so much on his mind these days. He would be sending Lucy away soon, and Savannah knew that troubled him.
I hope he doesnât stay out too long, Savannah thought. She padded across the cold stone floor and slipped beneath the quilts on her bed. She snuggled down deeper and closed her eyes. But sleep would not come.
I wish I could think of a way to help Tyler, Savannah thought. She rolled over onto her side.
What was that? Savannah sat up. She thought she heard the door slam downstairs. It must be Tyler, she thought. She slid out of bed and crept to the window. She could no longer see the torch.
She heard another sound and froze.
The sound of tiny footsteps.
Running.
Running across stone.
Lucy?
Bang! Savannahâs door flew open.
Lucy stood on the threshold, breathing heavily, her cheeks a fiery red.
The flames from the hearth were reflected in her glittering black eyes.
She stared at Savannah.
And then she began to laugh hysterically.
âI know the truth!â she called out in a singsong voice. âI know the truth!â
Chapter
31
L ucy spun around and dashed out the door.
Oh, no! Savannah thought. Lucy knows she is being sent away from Blackrose Manor.
Lucy liked to hide in the shadows. Lucy liked to learn secrets.
Tyler! I must warn Tyler. Who knows what Lucy will try to do to him!
Savannah rushed across the room to the dressing table and grabbed a candle. She lit it in the fireplace and hurried out of the room. Where could Lucy have gone? I must find Tyler first, she decided. Then we can both worry about finding Lucy.
Savannah walked down the hallway until she reached the stairs. The stone felt freezing against her bare feet. Savannah shivered.
I must find Tyler. Savannah scurried down thestairs. The candle flame danced wildlyâthen died. Throwing Savannah into darkness.
She froze. There are candles in the parlor, she told herself. I just have to get down the rest of the stairs and into the parlor.
Savannah stepped down. Her foot landed on the edge of the next step. She tripped. And felt herself falling. Falling headfirst down the hard stone stairs.
Chapter
32
S avannah landed at the bottom of the staircase. In a daze she realized she had fallen on something soft. Something warm.
A body!
Savannah scrambled away from it. She peered through the darkness. Lucy. Itâs Lucy.
Savannah cautiously reached out and shook the girl gently. âLucy?â
No
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