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"Oh, he is, is he? " shesaid in a snarl, turningtostart tohereHenry was still talkingwiththeiven pause when One-Eye calledout, "Aye, but he weren’tdriving itSomefella stole it from him onthe next block

Hechased after him on foot andcame on the accident after it happened"

Valoree hesitated, her gaze to control the horsesThe aboutdriving As far asshe knew, Skully and No-Nose werethe only, she turnedback toward the threethatlancedtowardher, hesitated, then started to leadthe ht and nearly ascoal tothe town houseswhenhis wagon had been stolen, she guessed The bottom andsides of hisconveyance were stained black froon? " Valoreeasked assoon as he was close enough tohearwithout herhaving to shout

"Aye The dirtyblighter stole it I - "

"One of mymen isinjured, " Valoree interruptedshortly as he stoppedbeforeher "I need toget him to the docksCan you take hi over his features "Why can’t ye just take hih todirty the seats? "

Valoree stiffened, her eyes narrowing to cold slits that were usually a warning to herisbrokenHe needs to be kept flat The carriage is too son What I a and be recompensed for it, or whetheryouwishto stand here andwatchit betaken Nohich isit? "

The azeslid from herto Bull, to Henry andDaniel, then lastlyto One-Eye seated on the driver’s bench "Ah, hell, " he toBull, Valoree owithhi, Bull turned and hefted hionThe driver climbed up to join One-Eye, who had shifted to make room for him The vehicle was off almost at once

Valoree waiteduntil ithad turned the corner before turning to e

The four of them were silent on the way back to the town house Valoree was fretting over No-Nose She almost asked Daniel to take theed herh on her plate ithhaving to explain aboutthe ship to hi ather Of course, he was always looking at her, but he was looking at herdifferentlyno, he kept castingcurious glancesher way

Sighing, she leaned her head against thewall of the carriage, relievedwhen theystoppedat theirdestination a moment later

They trooped silently inside and went directly to the salon

Valoree moved to stand by the fireplace asHenry quickly fixed everyone a drink He handed these out, then glanced at Daniel questioningly "Are yestillhungry? "

Thurborne slanced her wayHenry’sgaze then lass on the table, then stood "Actually, Henry, I think I aht If youwillallexcuseto retire"

Sheleft the rooht; then Henry downed his drink and headed forthedoor aswell

"I’ht, Thurborne" The door pulled quietly closedbehind him before Valoree or Daniel could say farewell

Nowthequestionswould begin, Valoree thoughtShe lifted her glassto drink fromit, but Danieldidn’t ask questions Instead he was suddenlybehindher, his hands on hershoulders, histhu the bare flesh ofher collarbones He pressed a kiss tothe back of her neck Sing the rum in her mouth, Valoree stood perfectly still, a to tre became much moreviolentwhen his hands slid down her ar her head, Valoree sought his lips with hers, sighinginto hismouth when he accepted theinvitationHe kissed herpassionately, one handdropping down over herstosThere, he pressed gently

Shegroaned, barely aware of the splash of cold liquid on her skin asthe glass she held tipped dangerously Then he withdrew his hands, andhis lips, and gave her aquick peck on the nose

Eyes blinkingopen, she stared in a back, then whirledtoward the fireplace, throwingher glass inthe fire with a vulgar curse Leaning herforeheadwearily againstthe mantel, she heard the front door of the town house open and closequietlyShe wasstill standingthere several ain

"Captain? "

Sighing, Valoree straightened, took adeep breath, thenturned topeeratHenry"Aye, what isit? "

He stared at her uncertainly for a ht? "

"Iam fineWhy shouldn’t I be? "she snapped "Is that all? "

"Nay, Iwantedto talk toyou about the carriage accident"

Sighing, Valoree estured for him to sit in the other "Have you heard froht? "

"Aye One-Eye and Bull returned with Skully just aafter No-Nose Saysitwasa cleanbreak andhe htly at thatnews "Good"

"Skully’s going toarrange foranother hack first thing inthe ood" Theywere both silent for a moment; then Valoree frowned

"What is it? " Henry asked, waiting

Valoree for a o out toain"

"Why? Whatis itye want toknow? Do you not think it was an accident, pure and siet aent toofast and lost control"

"Maybe, " Valoreetheownercan tellthemabout the fellow he saw stealit"