And now it had actually happened!
The Marquis was kissing her and nothing else in the world could ever matter.
He was there and she was in his arms.
He kissed her until she felt as if they were being encompassed by the light of the sun.
Then, as he raised his head, his fingers were on her lips telling her again to be silent.
He drew her towards the opening in the floor.
Still without uttering a single word he then lowered himself down into it and held out his arms.
She bent towards him and he lifted her down.
She found that they were standing in a dark passage and there was a lantern on the ground beside them.
He pulled the trap door back into place and took a little time in closing it very carefully.
She thought it was so that no one would realise how she had escaped.
The Marqu
