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Hmm. I'm kind of wanting her to go and knock on his door asking after whether he is feeling any better ... and then discovering the passageway.

I hope she goes looking for Cedric at his room!

Andreia

We'll see ... we'll see. ;-)

"No comment," the author replied, coyly. <bg>

I was wondering about the horse. Clearly, it couldn't be kept in his uncle's stable. It would be too recognizable as the Avenger's horse. Interesting news about this smuggler's cave. Lucius is going to be upset that he wasn't informed about it. So, the attacks on his neighbors and house-guests increased since the new Earl arrived at the manor house. Could someone be trying to frame Lucius?

Cedric:

Apparently, I'm the only one who assumes Lavinia will keep to social norms and stay far away from Cedric's rooms. That's the easiest way to get oneself a reputation (which is worse than a sex scandal is for a politician nowadays, since guilt only needs to be implied to ruin a woman for life). The best way would be to discretely have her maid inquire with his valet about Cedric's health, and only THEN investigate if the valet can't be found.

Am I the only one excited that Lavinia doesn't have to spend the day with Lucius?!

I gotta admit--my hope went straight to Lavinia going to check on Cedric, opening his door, discovering the passageway, and popping up in the cave to say 'hi' . Now the likelihood of that happening? Dunno--but I think I'll daydream about the possibilities throughout the afternoon ...

Laura

Definitely! People did pay more attention to horses back then. The Avenger needs horses that won't be recognized. Also, in those days, the stable hands slept above or near the stables, so if Cedric was fetching his horse (or returning it) at odd hours, they would know.

No neighborhood, no matter how nice, is ever immune to some theft or wrong doing. But, before Lucius returned home as the Earl, they had never seen anything on the scale of what they're currently experiencing.

She doesn't have to ride with him that day, because she stayed in her room so long, but that only takes care of an hour or so. As for the rest of the day ... we'll see. :-)
Personally, I too am happy for her when she doesn't have to be with Lucius!