***   

Deborah was awakened by whispers. She opened her eyes to see the first hints of dawn creeping into the room. A glance over at Japheth revealed that he was still asleep. Deborah smiled, stroked her husband’s face with the backs of her fingers. His eyelids fluttered and his mouth quirked at her touch, but he didn’t wake.

She heard the whispers again. Deborah slipped from the bed and quickly pulled on a robe, then stood still to listen. She traced the sound to the chamber door. Moving lightly on the balls of her feet, she slipped across the room and pressed her ear to the heavy wooden portal. Deborah recognized the hushed voice of her mother. She unlocked the door and pulled it open.

There stood Constance Zane, head bowed and eyes closed, clutching her Bible.

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