Her voice broke on the last word and, without thinking and without meaning to, she turned towards the Earl and flung herself against him hiding her face in his shoulder.
“H-how can I – I leave you?”
Her voice was choked with sobs and he could see tears running down her cheeks.
“I-I am only – safe when I am with – you.”
Slowly his arms went round her.
He could feel that her sobs had become a tempest shaking her whole body.
“You must not cry,” he urged her gently. “You have been so brave.”
“I am – not b-brave,” Cledra replied, “I am a – coward and I wish now I had – d-died. Then at least I would have – Papa and Mama to – look after me.”
The Earl’s arms tightened.
“You are not to say such things.”
“H-how can I – help it if I have to go away all – alone and leave you?”
Her words wer
