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Heat his knees, for he said, "Edinburgh, in case you’re curious Took to the sea as soon as I could and never looked back Especially not when a wee cockerel like this one tries to turnof which" He snapped open an odd, fur-covered bag around his waist, and a parakeet flew out in a tizzy to screech at him from the rafters

Frannie could only stare at the little yellow and green bird "How in Sang did you rin lit up his face "Told you I was good at catching things Shall we go out and find so that he was fully dressed and clean, at least, his hair brushed and tied back and his boots pulled on Did she trust hihty fetching about the firee ways And the earlier she went out to search for the lost pets, the better the chance of finding them in one piece Frannie bit her lip and considered What if someone came in for a kitten or a puppy? Casper didn’t knohen they’d been whelped, what their bloodlines were, or what they liked best to eat She needed every copper she could get fro," she said sadly "I can’t close shop, you know Especially now that there’s things to replace"

His brow creased, and he handed her the calico kitten that perched on his shoulder

"There wasn’t e, aye? Theand a bit of the bed? Can your lodger not take care of such things?"

Frannie shook her head, and Tho look The musician had his back turned as he sipped fro the necessaryat dawn suit?"

"How much?"

He raised one eyebrow, affronted "A ho but wrappies down at the station, and bad ones at that"

She cocked her head at hiht ask, why are you being so kind to ave her a look that seared her down to her toes, a spark lighting unexpected tinder Looking down and clearing his throat, he extracted a kitten froood-hearted woht be true And I could use the help, to be sure But only if you let me reimburse you" She plucked the kitten from his hands and stroked its tiny back until a purr started up "And only if it’s not too htAnd surely you have a family"

Thom’s face went dark "Not anymore I do a bit of handyet too broody," Frannie said, the corner of her odly hour," Casper tossed over his shoulder

Thoodly row a pair"

With a last nod at Frannie, Tho in here like he can fix everything?"

"What’s wrong with you?" She advanced on hih a near tragedy, useless to help clean up the mess Call yourself ahiss that drove her blood cold "You don’t know a godda about me," he said, low and deadly "Where I came from or what I am Don’t you dare coentleman so he can slip under your skirts Here’s reement still stands?"

He held out a paper tube of coins, and she took it nu&aue and riches weren’t on the list

"This is tooI don’t lack"

"Then ere you kicked out by your last landlord?"

"I--"

The rage fell from his face, and he simply looked like a lost little boy One hand went unconsciously to the pocket where she knew he kept his flask He recovered quickly and flashed his dirin didn’t reach his eyes

"Let’s just say my illness took me poorly I had a fit But I’m better now"