Love's Labyrinth Read Online Free PDF

around them the gardens, some open, some bordered with high hedges, lay in some formal arrangement. “This is magnificent.”
    “If you think this is a sight, wait until you see Mrs. Higgins.”
    Choking back giggles, they passed an open rose garden, arranged around a fountain, and another herb garden, this one laid out in concentric rings. High stalks of lavender scented the humid air.
    “There’s the maze.” Alison nodded in the direction of a high hedge. “I think the coast is clear.”
    Practically scampering to keep up with Alison’s long strides, Olivia gathered her skirts. The costume was undeniably authentically uncomfortable in the heat. They must spend a fortune on dry-cleaning the sweat stains out, she thought as they stepped between the tall hedgerows. Box yews rose all around them and, straight in front, another row of hedges made a corridor that led off in both directions. “You sure they’re in here?”
    “Mrs. Higgins said we’d view the eclipse from the center.” Alison paused and frowned again. “I think I hear them.”
    Olivia cocked her head, trying to listen closely with Alison. “I think you’re right. This way!”
    Down the narrow corridor between the high rows the two friends went, pausing at the opening. “This way?”
    “No, this way,” Olivia said, wishing she could remember what her father had told her about hedges and mazes.
    “Didn’t Mrs. Higgins say something about this maze? It didn’t sound that complicated—just keep turning in one direction and eventually you come—” They came to a dead end. Hedges rose on all three sides. “Damn. Maybe we should’ve turned in the other direction.” Alison winked.
    Olivia laughed. If there was one thing she loved about her friend, it was her ability to always see the funny side of any situation. “Obviously.”
    “Come on.”
    Up and down the maze they walked, peering back and forth, straining to hear the voices, which seemed maddeningly elusive. The sky darkened even more, and Alison looked up. “Wow, look, Liv—it’s the eclipse. Did you bring your funny glasses?”
    “I think I left mine in the office.”
    “I left mine on the bus, or maybe back in the locker room.”
    As if in unspoken agreement, they slowed their pace as the clouded sky grew even grayer. The thick air stilled and, despite the darkened sky, the heat grew almost unbearably oppressive. Olivia felt waves of dizziness come over her, and she took a deep breath. She glanced at Alison’s face and saw that her friend was pale. “Are you okay?”
    “Yeah,” she answered unconvincingly, “Just a little queasy for some reason. Maybe I’m hungry.”
    “I feel strange, too,” Olivia said. She took a deep breath. “How long is this supposed to last?”
    “Just a couple minutes.” Alison started to glance up, seemed to remember the repeated warnings not to look at the sun, and looked down. “Let’s go.”
    Olivia reached for Alison’s arm as another wave of nausea rolled over her. “It’s been more than a couple minutes.” She glanced down at her watch, then realized she’d left it in the locker room. The light began to brighten, and then, inexplicably, the sky darkened once more. “That’s really weird,” she murmured. “I don’t think that’s supposed to happen.”
    “There’s something really weird about this maze,” said Alison. “How long have we been in here?”
    Before Olivia could reply, the whole scene seemed to shift in and out of focus. She took one step forward and stumbled, as though she’d tripped. She looked over her shoulder at the ground behind them, as the light began to strengthen at last, and saw nothing lying across the path. “Now that’s really strange. I could’ve sworn—”
    “Look—there’s the entrance.” Alison pointed.
    “How—how could we have been that close—” Olivia broke off as they stepped out from between the high hedges.
    “I don’t know,” Alison answered. “That was creepy. Thank