After what Davis had tried to do to her in the ruins, she certainly couldn’t remain in his house any longer. Despite Meg's need for her, she’d leave in the morning. Elena slipped inside the front door as quietly as she could and crept up the front stairs, afraid a servant might see her if she used the back. She gained her room with a sigh of relief. After hiding the bundled shawl in a corner of her wardrobe, she poured water into the washbasin and dropped the cloak to the floor. The door opened. Elena yelped, grabbing for the discarded cloak. She was partly relieved to find it was Stella, not Davis. Stella crossed to her and pulled aside the cloak, staring at her blood-smeared nakedness. "Oh my God!" Stella exclaimed, shaking her head. "I told you to stay away from him." Elena burst into tears. Once started, she couldn't stop. She cried while Stella washed the blood from her back and dabbed arnica on the thorn scratches, wept as Stella slid a nightgown over her head and led her toward the bed. "Hush, now," Stella urged, patting her shoulder.
