[MaC] "I didn't know..." [LONG]

[Knave of Amber]

On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:28:44 +0000, Nowsounds at comcast.net
<Nowsounds at comcast.net> wrote:
> > She fought - oh, how fiercely she fought that silent battle for life. 
> > But her hairs fell forward over that face that was lovely no more as she 
> > slowly grew still, and limp in his hands. And then there was no 
> > movement, no more hoarse breath. She was resting against him, as she 
> > should always have rested, gentle, biddable. A moment, an eternal 
> > moment, when she was utterly his. 
> > 
> > Then the record came to an end, and Philip was once again in the here 
> > and now, with Anton's cigarette still smouldering in the ashtray and 
> > Nola dead in his arms. 
> "Dear God," Arabella murmured, almost under her breath. Her heart went out,
> in a brief, instinctive moment, to all of them... to Nola Diamond, who had
> died too young, too brutally, as so many were dying, to this poor,
> anguished, young man, maimed in both body and soul, to Esme Fitzroy, to her
> own daughter, who felt so trapped by duty and tradition... to all of them.
> Instinctively, her eyes went to Michael's face, searching for something -
> perhaps wisdom, perhaps simply understanding...

Michael's eyes offered strength and support as he offered her a
handkerchief, his hand touching hers and lingering a few moments.