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The noise of the banquet became a dull roar when Henry closed the hall doors behind them. Thomas breathed a sigh of relief and took Eileen’s hand in his own as Henry, with Sir Lawrence on his heels as always, led them down the candle-lit hallway. George and Cecily walked arm and arm behind Thomas and Eileen, and Goshawk brought up the rear. Music started up again in the great hall as they walked down the main corridor, the clear notes of flute and harp and the beat of the drum rising above the tide of chatter in the room and wafting through the hallways.
They were just coming to the end of the main hallway when they heard light footsteps running up behind them. They turned and found Rose, holding up her skirts and gasping as she dashed toward them. “Lady Prellham,” explained Rose when
