GULLIBLE GUZZLE

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: 6.6 GIGUE ~ PETER GREGSON, RICHARD HARWOOD & REINOUD FORD]

Oriana felt a familiar heat crawl up her neck; she didn't miss the underlying threats in Adric's words, and she knew they were meant for her. She had underestimated the craziness of this man the first day, thinking Sophie would match his style. But looking at her elder sister now, who didn't even catch up with the man's sarcasm, Oriana knew she had messed up big time by writing a letter to Avon. Did she bite off more than she could chew with this one?

This whole escapade and marriage arrangement, meant to be a punishment for Adric, had morphed into a personal nightmare. Here she was, back in the very room where she'd encountered the nightmare for the first time. Instead of running away from it, she ran back towards him by writing a silly letter. And to top it all off, Adric was reveling in her discomfort.