第24部分(第6/7 頁)

face　to　her　neck　to　her　breasts。　Mockery　faded　when　he　looked　at　her

wedding　band。　Frowning；　he　drew　himself　up　straight。　〃I　think　I've　had

it。　Good　night。〃　As　he　brushed　past　her；　she　grabbed　his　arm　in　alarm。

〃Where　are　you　going？〃

〃To　bed。〃　His　words　were　blunt；　his　tone　chilled。

〃Oh；　no；　you're　not。〃

He　arched　a　brow。　〃Are　you　going　to　stop　me？〃　Slowly　he　looked　down　at

the　white…knuckled　hand　on　his　arm。

She　released　him　fast。　〃But　you　can't　stay　here！〃　He　continued　on　toward

his　bags。　Unable　to　think　of　a　better　course；　she　followed。　〃I　said；　you

can't　stay！　There　must　be　some　place　in　the　village。〃

Piling　luggage　under　his　right　arm；　he　headed　wordlessly　for　the　stairs。

Abruptly；　he　stopped；　turning　his　head　only　enough　to　call　over　his

shoulder；　〃I　assume　you're　sleeping　down　here？〃

She　had　no　power；　no　power　at　all。　〃Yes；　but　you　have　to　leave。〃

He　turned　to　face　her。　His　smile　was　polite；　his　eyes　frosty；　his　voice

cool。　〃I　will　in　good　time。〃　Taking　the　stairs　two　at　a　time；　an

astounding　feat；　given　his　bulky　burden；　he　disappeared　into　the　attic；

leaving　her　at　a　total　loss　for　words。

Anne　didn't　budge。　Her　arms　hung　limp　at　her　sides；　her　bare　feet　were

flat　on　the　floor；　her　eyes　were　glued　to　the　attic　door；　which　closed

with　a　resounding　bang。　Even　the　faint　sounds　from　within…the　scrape　of

a　chair　leg；　the　creak　of　the　mattress　under　one　bag；　the　thud　of

another　on　the　floor；　the　jangle　of　metal　hangers　on　a　wooden　rod…failed

to　move　her。

A　crick　in　her　neck　finally　brought　her　back　to　reality。　Hands　bracing

her　lower　back；　she　rolled　her　head　in　a　circular　motion　in