The Accidental Bride
Woodstock, Oxford, January, 1646Lady Phoebe Carlton lay very still listening to her bedmate's even breathing. Olivia was a very light sleeper and woke at the slightest sound. And tonight, Olivia mustn't know what Phoebe was about. They never had secrets from each other and were as close if not closer than sisters. But Phoebe couldn't afford for her dearest friend to know about her present enterprise.
Phoebe pushed aside the coverlet and slipped to the floor. Olivia stirred and turned over. Phoebe froze. The fire in the grate was almost out, and it was so cold in the chamber that her breath formed a pale fog in the dim light from the guttering candle on the mantel. Olivia was afraid of the dark and they always kept a candle burning until she was asleep.
Olivia's even breathing resumed and Phoebe tiptoed across the chamber to the armoire. She had left it partly open so it wouldn't squeak. She took out the bundle of clothes and the small cloakbag and crept on her freezing bare feet to the door. She lifted the latch and opened it just wide enough for her to slide sideways through and into the dark passage beyond.
Shivering, she scrambled into h ...
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