The tempest had raged for two nights. Water beat at the top windows of Alexander's home with maddened fury, a tempest which shook the foundations of the house and made its empty rooms ring with low, rumbling moans.

Amelia stood in the large hall, her sides trembling, her fists clenched deep into her own hands as if holding tight would hold her whole. The hall was quite smoky with the smell of fire that had long ago burned a very long, long time and only had faint embers to burn on the ...