Free Dark Mirror 2 - Dark Passage by M.J. Putney

brandy. But Christmas puddings weren’t meant to be eaten alone, and there was no way Cynthia would share it with the awful girls who’d given her the cut direct.
    There wasn’t much to do at Lackland over the holidays. The only teacher left on the girls’ side was horrid Miss Macklin. Cynthia took a book to the refectory so she could read during her solitary meals. The only volume she could find was a beastly collection of sermons, but at least it gave her something to pretend to read.
    She whiled away her days with embroidery and walking the spacious grounds. Once she stood on the edge of the cliff and watched the crashing waves of the English Channel below. Would anyone miss her if she fell? Tory would have the whole room to herself, so she’d probably be happy.
    Turning away, she reminded herself that Napoleon loomed on the far side of the channel like a great hungry beast, making plans to invade England. If the little tyrant tried, he’d have to get past her. In her present mood, she could destroy any number of stupid tyrants.
    Occasionally she considered leaving the school through the Labyrinth, but where would she go from there? Lackland village was small, and none of the Irregulars who lived there were particular friends.
    There was Jack Rainford. She’d worked with him very closely in the weather brigade because they were by far the strongest weather mages, but he was the most annoying boy. Still, they were friends, more or less. She’d never had a boy for a friend.
    Christmas Day began with a long, boring service in the chapel, where Cynthia had a whole pew to herself. Then a decent midday dinner, for which she had little appetite. Now all the other girls were gathered in one of their bedrooms to have a party. They’d discussed within Cynthia’s hearing all the cakes and sweetmeats they’d share, along with good sherry and brandy.
    She hoped they all choked on their stupid hazelnuts!
    The room was so dark she could barely see the crack in the ceiling. Shivering from the chill, she sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She’d never studied hearth witchery because it was vulgar, but she was cold enough to reconsider.
    She concentrated on the coals in the tiny fireplace, imagining them burning hotter and brighter. The coals brightened faintly, but not enough to warm the room. She’d have to replenish the coal.
    As she added a shovelful of coals, someone tapped at the door. She ignored it. Probably one of those stupid girls had decided to practice some Christian charity because it was a holiday. Well, Cynthia didn’t need any of them.
    The door swung open. Catching the motion from the corner of her eye, she glanced over. Good heavens, a man ! She scrambled to her feet, wondering wildly what spells she might use to drive him off.
    The newcomer stepped forward into the room. Jack Rainford, tall and broad-shouldered in a heavy cloak, his fair hair catching the firelight. As disgustingly handsome as always. “What are you doing here!” she exclaimed. “Boys aren’t allowed in the girls’ school! Not ever !”
    He gave his usual infuriating Jack Rainford grin. “There’s no one around to notice or care.” He opened his hand to show a small, water-polished pebble. “I brought a stealth stone so no one would see me, but I didn’t need it. Your reputation is safe.”
    “ I care! Get out of my room right now !”
    “I’ll leave,” he said with a wicked smile. “But you’re coming with me.”
    “You have lost your mind,” she said with conviction. “Your grasp on sanity was always weak, and now you’ve descended into sheer madness. Why would I want to leave the school with you?”
    “To have a nice Christmas dinner in good company,” he said. “We should get to my house about the time the goose is done.”
    “I’ve already had Christmas dinner,” she snapped. “It was served to the students from both schools, and it was the best meal the abbey serves all year.”
    His brows