How could Elspeth be guilty of such treacherous behavior—first to lock me into that bookroom, then to lie in wait in this chamber, only to attempt my death? I was so furious over this treachery that I scarcely felt any bad effects from my recent near-strangulation, although I heard myself cough with annoying regularity while I got to my feet and examined the room. As I had thought, it was an out-of-fashion bedchamber, decently furnished but not dusted in some time. There was a broken place in one of the shutters, and the morning light prevented me from resting my hand upon a heap of melted tallow on the table at the foot of the four-poster bed. But as I slipped my hand away quickly, I recalled the liquid warmth in the center of the tallow and passed my palm above it again. My attacker had calmly waited in this room, with a candle for light, until I forced my way in, thinking myself so very clever.I went to the windows, wincing at the pain caused by any movement of my head, and forced open one of the shutters.
