a blast of late-october air stirred her black hair in front of her eyes . *** shadow four days passed , and i was very grateful that the royal family still had not summoned either mercedes or i . he sighs , and i wonder if he has ever apologized in his life . falling on the food like wild dogs , they quickly ate . about how he would feel if he 'd been denied the chance to know his father and mother and sister . he followed her silently up the stairs and down the long hall to her door . 