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Felicity pulls me into the parlor "What happened at the ball, it ain" She won’t look at ood and loving entleman He would never harm anyone"

"What about Polly?"

"What about Polly?" she says, suddenly staring me down She can put such ice in those eyes when she has a care to "She’s lucky to have been taken in by us She’ll have everything she wants--the best governess, schools, clothes, and a season to end all seasons Better than the orphanage by far"

This is the price of her friendship, ree?"

Felicity’s waiting for my answer

"No," I say to Ann

Felicity’s shoulders drop "Let’s not be bothered by the horrors of holiday visits to home Gemma knohere to find the Temple"

"I’ve seen it, I think"

"What are aiting for? Let’s go," Ann says

The garden is nearly unrecognizable toup thick and dry and tall as sentries The carcass of a s, lies opened in the brittle grass Flies swar "Are you sure we’re in the garden?" Ann asks, looking around "

Yes," I say "Look, there’s the silver arch" It is tarnished but there all the same

Felicity finds the rock where Pippa’s hidden her arrows and hoists the quiver onto her back"Where’s Pip?"

A beautiful animal steps out from the bushes It is like a cross between a deer and a pony, with a long, glossy mane and flanks of a dappled mauve

"Hello," I say

The creature aoes skittish, as if she’s s that alar leaps from the brush with a warrior’s cry

"Get away!" I shout, pushing the others into the heavy weeds

The ani There is the sick sound of bone breaking, and then nothing

"What was that thing?" Ann whispers

"I don’t know," I say