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Hope was a treacherous es hence when Darius finally walked into the horand door opened to both hien whose eyes were filled with the tragedy of hope Verily, the butler&039;s expression was of such high regard, it was clear he felt he was ushering into his master&039;s house saviors, rather than aries of fortune would bear out whether his faith ell- or misplaced

With alacrity, Darius and Tohrentle chair had to steady his weight

"Welco," Sampsone said as he reached out with both palms to shake Darius&039;s hands "I&039;s My beloved shellan"

The male&039;s voice cracked and in the silence, Darius stepped aside "May I present ue, Tohrment, son of Hharm"

As Tohrment bowed loith his hand over his heart, it was clear that the son had all the manners his sire did not

The master of the house returned the deference "Would you care for libations or gastronomic provision?"

Darius shook his head and took a seat As Tohrment came to stand behind him, he said, " Thank you But mayhap we could speak of what has happened within this manse"

"Yes, yes, of course What s Tell us all things"

"My daughter ht in the darkness" The male took out a handkerchief "She was of worth and virtue Afemale you should never come across"

Darius, aware that they&039;d already lost two evenings, allowed the father a certain tiht, sir, that terrible night," he cut in when there was a pause "What happened here within this house?"

The male nodded and dabbed at his eyes "She awoke fro a certain disquiet and was advised to attend to her private quarters for her health She was brought a ht and then another well before the dawn&039;s arrival That was the last she was seen Her evening quarters are upstairs, but she also has, along with the rest of the faround She often elected not to move down beloith us for the day, however, and as we have access to her through inner hallways, we assuh--"

The male choked up at this point "Hoish I had insisted"

Darius could very hter One way or the other, we shall find her Would you pero now unto her bedrooen , the butler came forward "Silas will be pleased to escort you I shall prefer to wait here"

"But of course"

When Darius stood up, the father reached forward and snagged his hand "A word, if I may? Between you and me"

Darius acquiesced, and after Tohren left, the master of the house collapsed back into his forhter was of worth Of virtue Untouched by"

In the pause that stretched out, Darius knehat the et her back in that virginal condition, her honor, as well as the family&039;s, was in jeopardy

"I cannot say this in front of hter If she has been defiled perhaps it would be better to leave"

Darius&039;s eyes narrowed "You would prefer her not be found"

Tears sprang up in those pale eyes "I" Abruptly, the male shook his head "No no I want her back No matter the outcohter"

Darius was not inclined to offer support--that such a denial of his blooded child had even crossed the o to her rooers and the doggen stepped back into the archway of the study

"This way, sire," the butler said

As he and his protege were taken through the house, Darius scanned the reinforced s and doors There was steel everywhere, either separating the panes of glass or fortifying the stout oak panels To get in without welco to bet that every room on the second and third floors was similarly well-appointed--as were the servants&039; quarters

He alsoand precious object as they ascended This falymera , with coffers choked with coin and an enviable bloodline Thus, the fact of their un affected s: She was a round, a fe of beauty and social and financial implication

And that was not the full extent of it As with all such valuations, the converse was true as well: To have such a daughter ruined, either in fact or by ruenerations to even dihter honestly, but the weight of all this distorted the relationship

Darius quite believed that in the male&039;s eyes it was better that she co, but defiled The latter was a curse, the forarner lymeraHe truly did

"Here are her private quarters," the doggen said, swinging open a door

As Tohrment stepped inside the candlelit room, Darius asked, "Have these been cleaned? Have they been tidied since she was herein?"

"Of course"

"Leave us, please?"

The doggen bowed deeply and disappeared

Tohr at the silk draperies and the beautifully appointed sitting area A lute was in one corner and a fine piece of needlework that was partially completed in another Books by hu with scrolls in the Old Language

The first thing one noticed was that nothing was out of place But whether that was a case of the staff or the circumstance of the disappearance, it was hard to know

"Touch nothing, yes?" Darius said to the boy

"But of course"

Darius went into the lush bedroom The draperies were ht couldn&039;t hope to penetrate and the bed was ringed withfrom the canopy

Over at the wardrobe, he pulled open the carved doors Gorgeous gowns in sapphire and ruby and citrine and ele eer rested on a hook on the inside of the panels, as if she had taken the night&039;s choice fro table had a hairbrush on it and various pots of unguents and scented oils and tinting powders All of which were arranged in neat rows

Darius pulled open a drawer and let out a soft curse Jewelry cases Flat leather jewelry cases He picked one up, popped the golden clasp, and lifted the lid