Slowly, painstakingly, he combed his long fingers through her wet hair, gently separating the tangles. She grew sleepy, her limbs pleasantly exhausted, the way it used to be when she was a child, play-weary after a long day in the summer sun. Lying together in the firelight, they listened to rain...
The landlord handed her a lit candle in a small brass holder. “Up the stairs. Turn right. Door at the very end of the passage. I’ll have my lad bring your trunk.” Ellie had no great hopes for it, considering this was the last empty chamber. She made her way up the narrow s...