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He would turn green, she knew, and, oddly enough, she looked forward toit Shewas findingDaniel’sdistress quite a to adone’shusbandreally wasn’tagoodthing But forsoot atthe ideaof all those beesbuzzing around, the more she enjoyed the idea It was rather likethesatisfaction she had experienced as ayoung girl when she had eaten pickled cucu with raspberry preserves, all to make Jeremy - who had always suffered terribly from seasickness - run for the side of the ship This wasprobably a flaw in her personality, this enjoy those she loved

Valoree paused halfway up the walk to the house, her eyes groide asshe realized what she’d said Those she loved? Those she loved? Sheloved hihtthat She had Right? Wouldshe give her life for hirowing oldwith him Happily? Oh, dear Lord, shecould! She couldsee herselftorturing and love to him by turn until hewas arandy hundred-year-old with noteethShe lovedDaniel

The door tothe town house openedand Bawden, Thurborne’s butler, peered out, re a beaentle intothehouse

"Good afternoon, ood day? "

"Yes, thank you" Valoree laughed, tugging hergloves off "Is my lord husband back fronifiedvoiceashe took her gloves "He asked that I infore; then he shalljoin youfor supper"

"He is already finished with his dress and is ready to join his beautiful wife at their supper, " Daniel corrected, co at Valoree"Younoden"

"Very good, nified walk as Daniel stepped offthe last step Valoree launched herself at hi him passionately as heclosed hisarently from side to side as the kiss ended "I missedyou, too"

Valoree chuckled softly, thensobered "I have so totell you"

"Oh? " He cockedan eyebroithinterest "Andould that be? "

"I - "

The frontdooropened, interruptingher, and theybothturned tosee the footroaned at once

"More? "

Grinning, Valoree nodded, then took his hand and led hi hiainst hischest and reached up to caress his face softly

"Now, as I was saying I - "

Theyboth turned as the door tothe kitchen opened and Cook entered carrying a largeplatterbearing stuffed fish

"Mmmmrn That looks delicious, " Daniel flattered theflushed woaze slid back toValoree apologetically and he urgedher towardthe table, then held her chair out forher "Sitdown, darling We - "

"My lord? "

"Aye? " Daniel turned froly at Bawden as the entleman to see you, my lord, " the man explained the intrusion "I told himyou were at dinner, but he said it was important Iput him inthe salon Shall I tell him he will have to wait? "

"NayIshallsee to it, Bawden"Daniel gave Valoree another apologeticsmile, then bent to press a kiss to her forehead "I won’t be a moment, " heassured her, then slidfro setdown drew Valoree’s gaze backto thetable, andshefoundherself gazing down at awhole fish, stuffed Eyes, scales, fins, everything had been left wholly intact Valoree felther stoht youshould know - "

Valoree stiffened as she recognized Henry’s voicebefore it was silenced Frowning, she hurriedout intothe hall Thesalon door was closed,toit, she reached for the doorknob, then hesitated, and pressed her ear to the door instead

"What? How did it happen? " she heard Daniel ask in a inValoree’s room, "Henry responded

"Skully went in to collect the rest of Valoree’s things as ye ordered him to, and surprised the fellow"

"What fellow? " Valoreeet you,abruptly, Valoree turned wide-eyed to face Bawden "Oh, I - "Thinkingof no excuse, she simply shook her head "Nay, thank you"

Themanhesitated, thennodded and turnedonhis heel As he tookhiain

"Is he all right? " Daniel was askingwithconcern

"He broke an arm in the tumble down the stairs" Henry sounded upset

"Great, "Valoreesighed"Another broken lierous to her crew than theseas

Shecould almostbelieve that they were cursed Then she realized that Henry had asked to speak to Daniel, andshe frowned He should have asked to speak to her He hadn’tHe wasbringing the news to Daniel And Daniel wasn’t calling her inon this Soover

"And the other fellow? " Danielasked inside the salon

"Dead Broke his neck on the way down the stairs"

They went down the stairs together, Valoree guessed, frustrated that she hadto do anyguessing atallSkully otaway andone afterhinize hih the door "Never seen hihBull sayshe looks like the chap as driving the carriage that crashed intoours"

Valoree cursed under herbreath at the same hed almost tooquietlyfor her tohear

"It wouldseem not"