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The bushes rustled just behind the crow, and it gave a loud squawk and flapped aardly to the ground She had been worried about this bird in particular, as it preferred to roost in her rafters and leave white streaks down the other birds’ cages For that reason, she kept one of its wings clipped, which er than the other released birds It was aerous as London
Tho in a thick Scottish brogue, ht in his care The startled crow turned its head, screeched, and flopped ungracefully into the air, cartwheeling across the grass with Tho, and the children started laughing, and before she kneas happening, Frannie herself was chuckling, right there with her boot toes on the hated green of Hyde Park
Just then, the crow must have finally spotted her With a loud squawk of relief, it ran at her in an odd, hopping gait, wings outstretched and mouth open She knelt with a broad smile and offered the arm of her worn tweed jacket The creature leaped onto her, and she stood, stroking its ruffled feathers andabout how handsonity Crows liked that sort of thing
Thom walked up at afires all nightor fro flapped after a crow in London’s irls, he gave a silly bow, causing the very hard not to laugh heartily herself It took a big y old crow
The cro back just a bit as Thoht and not hollering
"You’re going to have to sendto think you’re a hard an to walk away fro her, he took his place by her side
"It’s been a long time since I made myself useful" He pulled the tie out of his hair and shook it loose before putting it back in place, and Frannie’s stomach did a little flip It was almost as if Thom had no idea of how handsome he was and, frankly, didn’t care, and that orlds away from the sort of fellow she was used to
"Not useful? But you fight fires You’re the only thing that keeps this entire city fro up in flames!"
He snorted "To tell ye the truth, I don’t know if that’s so much a wish to be useful as a sort of self-destructive behavior with a silver lining"
"And the badge?" She gestured at the copper pin on his suspender
He waved a hand "Eh, I investigate fires It’s mostly an honorary title that involves doin’ more paperwork than the other lads Workin’ with the Coppers isn’tto do, ye ken"
Frannie breathed a tiny sigh to herself She didn’tto say to the Coppers, but at least he wasn’t one of them She barely stayed afloat as it was If the Coppers ever found out about her secret, she’d lose everything The crow , as it squawked in her ear and flapped its wings
"I know, I know You’re a grand lad Now, can it"
She looked at Thom out of the corner of her eye as they walked the streets of London, hihtest bit behind her It was a position of politeness that made her feel cared for but not overpowered Had he draped an arm around her waist or slipped her hand onto his elbow, she would have bolted like a frightened finch It was the sort of thing Casper would have done But Tho No urchins plucked her sleeve, no dandies doffed a hat She actually enjoyed the walk, despite the fact that her coain and well aware of an audience She would have to find it a proper ician, and fast
Back at the shop, Thom hurried ahead to open the door for her When it wouldn’t open, Frannie was just as surprised as he was
"That’s not right," shethe street She knocked, but Casper’s voice didn’t answer She patted her pockets and sighed "And I haven’t brought a key"
Thoht scale it "Is there a door on the roof?"
Frannie startled and shook her head a little too quickly "Also locked, and higher than it looks But we can go around back I keep a hidden key"