Cherry rolled her eyes at him.


    "Why should I tell you? You and your wife are just alike—always demanding something in return for a little favor!"


    She turned on her heel and started toward the private rooms.


    Lionel''s hand shot out, his fingers closing around her arm in a grip that was anything but gentle.


    "Ow! Lionel, are you insane? Let go! Let go of me! I''m a woman, you know! Have you ever heard of being gentle?"


    She pped at his hand with her free one, trying to pry his fingers off, but his strength was overwhelming.


    "Cherry, I''ll ask you onest time. Is Hannah here, and where is she?"


    "Let go of me first, and then I''ll tell you!"


    Her stubbornness only tightened his grip. From her attitude, he could easily guess how she must have been treating Hannah at the Temple estate. The thought fueled his anger, and his fingers dug deeper into her arm.


    "She''s here, she''s here!" Cherry finally yelped. "She''s in the main hall with my Uncle Peter and Samuel."


    Lionel released her instantly and strode toward the ballroom.


    Cherry rubbed her sore wrist, her eyes welling up with tears. "He''s like an animal," she muttered. "No wonder he and Hannah are married. Two peas in a pod."


    She took a few deep breaths topose herself, smoothed her dress, and headed for the room Lionel had pointed out. She knocked several times, but there was no answer. She knocked again, harder, but still nothing.


    A bad feeling crept over her. Had Lionel lied to her? Was Quennel even in there?


    She grabbed the handle and pushed the door open. The room was pitch ck andpletely empty.


    "Lionel, you liar!" she seethed, mming the door shut. She gathered her skirts and stormed back toward the main hall, fuming. What a pair of deceitful snakes! They were both just toying with her.


    Back in the bathroom, Lionel''s eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Hannah. The g was packed, and it took him only a moment before someone approached him,


    ceasing its search.


    Finally, he spotted her. But she wasn''t alone. Standing beside her was Quennel.


    "We''ll talkter."


    Cutting the conversation short, Lionel made his way toward them. Hannah sensed his approach and nced over just as he reached her side.


    ????


    "Hannah finds her family, and you, her husband, don''t even bother to pay us a visit or let us know? If I hadn''t asked, I would have beenpletely in the dark Lionel what kind of husband are you?" Quennel said, his voice low but sharp with disapproval.


    "I understand keeping the marriage a secret, but did you have to hide the fact that


    Hannah found her family too?" he continued, his brow furrowed.


    iel


    He then turned to Peter with a slight smile. "I know you''ve already held a family dinner, and you''ve brought her to this g tonight, but I think a more formal celebration is in order Let all of Sova know, so that anyone with ill intentions will think twice."


    Peter nodded. “We''re nning on it. A few of our elders and my brother are out of town on business. They''ll be back in a couple of days, and we''ll host the event


    then."