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"I can take care of that," Ranon said, looking at Cassidy "You want it near the house?"

"Actually" Cassidy looked flustered "The furniture is for Gray, so soardens would probably bestunned

"In that case," Burle said, "perhaps Prince Gray could give ive ot here," Cassidy protested

"And I’ll be here for the next few days," Burle replied "But when I’ive a full day’s work So you get on with your work, and I’ll get on with mine, and I’ll see you at dinner Go on, now Git"

"Are you allowed to talk to a Queen like that?" Gray asked

"Hell’s fire, no," Burle said, laughing "But I’hter" He gave Cassidy a coru"

Didn’t taketo be reporting personally to Prince Sadi when he went hoht hand and said politely,"Lady, if you’re ready, the Steward is waiting to review some information about the Provinces"

His conduct as he escorted her into the house was absolutely correct

Too bad she looked so stunned by it

Cassie’s father This man is Cassie’s father

Gray couldn’t keep hiswhere he put his feet--so he kept tripping over nothing

"I guess you’ve known Cassie for a long time," Gray said

"All her life," Burle replied with an odd smile and a twinkle in his eyes

Fool Idiot Gray wanted to sue as well as his feet Could he sound any dumber? Why couldn’t he sound like Theran or Ranon or any other grown man?

And why did it suddenly matter so much that this uess Cassie was upset about the stuff in the shed," Gray said

"I didn’t see the note athered she was pretty riled about it," Burle replied

"She didn’t need to get riled It’s not i "You didn’t tell her that, did you?"

"No, sir"And considering the way Burle looked and sounded right now, he was very glad he hadn’t said anything

"Sesther it’s not important She won’t hear it the way the words are s between a man and a wo is important, it’s best for the ht about that "Because treating the thing that’s got her riled as important tells her that she’s i on to the shed

When they entered the shed, Gray wished he had straightened the tools, swept the floor So But, Hell’s fire, he hadn’t expected Cassie’s father to show up!

Burle pushed the old blanket aside and pursed his lips "You gonna get a new chair to put in that corner? With a better la you like books, since a bookcase is one of the pieces requested"

"I like books, stories and such," Gray said "And I’ to know," Burle said, nodding

But Gray’s thoughts had followed a different path "You would know stories about when Cassie was little"

"I know stories," Burle agreed "Might even share a few"

Gray smiled He wanted to hear those stories, wanted to share hter, can I call her Kitten?"

Burlea few steps in the dance, aren’t you?"

"Huh?"

Burle studied hi, "You kno to use a has"

"You want to learn?"

Gray hesitated He did want to learn, and he wanted to spend time with Burle,who understood an ihter and a Queen--and had shown him, and everyone else, that Cassie understood the difference That was so the Queens who had controlled Dena Nehele before the witch storm killed theht happen if he wasn’t honest before they began