unpleasant memories. The window of what had been
my room was dark. All the curtains had been drawn,
the panes becoming mirrors reflecting the dismal,
cloudy sky.
The servants came to greet me first. Curtis
looked shattered, his blue lips trembling; Miles looked
stunned, his cheeks cold, his eyes distant. Even Rye
looked very old to me. Bereavement had aged him
quickly; he and Tony Tatterton had been together for
so many years.
Drake approached us soon after, ignoring Luke
and coming directly to my side of the car.
"How are you, Annie?"
"I'm fine, Drake." I was determined to be my
mother's daughter and keep my dignity and strength. "It will all begin soon." He leaned closer to me.
"Do you know who is here? Who is alive after all?" "Yes."
He recoiled with surprise.
"You do?"
"If you would have let me talk to you calmly
instead of accusing me of being ungrateful and
accusing Luke of terrible things, I would have been
able to tell you I had met him here and he was the one
who called Aunt Fanny and told her to come to get
me."
"But . . why?"
"Because he saw what was happening, Drake.
He knew some of the things you refused to see," I
said, not attempting to hide my anger.
Drake glanced at Luke and then turned to me
again.