actions,” he said, reverting to his teasing. “For a girl
who came so calmly through a violent storm, shrugged
off the possibility of rape with the utmost scorn and has
been so level-headed and sensible all day—you amaze
me! Who would have thought you would jib at rats!”
She could not control the quick shiver which ran over
her. “I ... I don’t like them,” she said.
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“Obviously,” he nodded. “But they are clever little
creatures, you know. I would have expected you to be
kinder about them, such animal lovers are the English!”
She saw that he was attempting to put things back
on a normal footing, and tried to respond. “They’re like
some men,” she said, lightly, “clever but loathsome!”
He grinned. “Present company excepted, I hope?”
Kate laughed. “Did that come too near home?”
He grimaced. “I’ll get some straw and make a bed on
the floor.”
Within ten minutes they were both lying on warm
dry straw, near the hearth, covered by a heap of thick
blankets.
The room was dark, except for the glow of the fire,
and Kate felt her eyes growing heavy. She could feel
every little movement Marc made, hear his regular
breathing. How strange, she thought sleepily, to be here
like this with him. She giggled at the thought of what
Miss Carter would say if she could see them.
“What’s funny?” Marc asked softly, turning his head
towards her.
She told him, still laughing.