Read WoA2.23Smashwords for Free Online Page B

I would never have forgiven myself if you'd been lost."
    I told her about how I dreamt of my mother when I fainted and she listened intently. When I mentioned that she kissed the palm of my hand she stopped me.
    "You remember that? You were so small. She would sing to you all the time and insisted that when you were fussy, if she kissed your palm it calmed you immediately." My Aunt peeked in from the door.
    "There is someone who would like to see you if you feel up to it, Tamsin." I nodded guessing that it was Julian, but when she stepped back, the long-haired man in the uniform walked into the room, and I sat up. Celia stood and stepped away so that Leo could take my hand. He did not kiss it the way his brother had, he simply held it gently, as though it were so fragile it might break in his grasp. His eyes were much lighter than I remembered, like the color of amber.
    "I don't know how to thank you for..." I began, and he looked soberly at me before he shook his head and spoke softly. His eyes were constantly on my face, never leaving my eyes and lips.
    "You don't have to." He sounded different from how I remembered him, as though he picked up another accent somehow, and I wondered if it was something to do with the little time he spent at war. I knew that his only battle was Waterloo, though he was present when Napoleon was removed to Helene. This was, of course, according to the dinner conversation two nights before. That dinner seemed like a world away after the recent events.
    Leo stared at me silently for a moment, and I was in awe of him. He rescued me, probably saved my life and would not even allow me to thank him. After giving my hand a soft squeeze, he let it go and nodded to Celia and Aunt Emmaline before exiting the room. My Aunt stepped out with Celia to see them off, and I saw in a nearby mirror that I was as red as my hair. Just then Julian stepped into the room, and I immediately wondered why he was not at my rescue when Perseus darted into the woods. I gave him a stare that would have chilled a hot iron after a day’s work. He saw my anger and spoke defensively.
    "Don't look at me that way! I followed you and lost myself in the woods looking for you for God knows how long! If that horse was properly trained, this would not have happened. Anyway, what were you doing on a horse of that size? You should still be riding ponies!" This made me even more furious.
    "How dare you blame that poor animal? He was merely spooked! If you had any sense, you would've grabbed the reins before he darted! You didn't even--"
    " Me? You were already holding them! If it was not for me, nobody would have known you were lost. I had the good sense to ride into town and form a search party when I could not find you. Were it not for that, Leo would not have even been looking for you!" I began to cry at the thought of Perseus, who did not manage to come out of this incident alive. He stopped short.
    "I'm sorry, please don't cry, I meant no harm." He sat next to me.
    "I really was worried about you, that's the only reason I'm so upset." I nodded, not fully believing in his earnestness.
    He continued, “I am sorry about the horse, too. He was..." I stared at him as if to say, choose your words wisely, and he continued, "...a beautiful horse." We were silent for a moment and Creeda peeked in and looked from me to Julian, oddly.
    "Goodness me, I must be loosin' me head, I swear I just heard shoutin' from down the hall," she rattled, and she was gone from the doorway as quickly as she'd appeared.
    After a moment’s pause, Julian and I laughed uncontrollably. We both took a deep breath.
    "That old bat. She's a sweet thing, but she sure has a strange way about her." Julian certainly was right about that. Then he looked at me, smiling.
    "What do you say we call it a draw? If we are going to be spending so much time together while I accompany you to Germany, we should try to learn to be civil." I nodded my agreement. Then he patted my head