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Colin watched Lord Ware lead Ae to wrench her away It was unbearable to see her with anotherand leaving a gaping hole behind
"I think you should stay," St John said, drawing Colin’s attention away fro back
"You do not understand," Colin argued "We have been followed ever since we left Reading If I keep er away froriain," he pointed out "Then she will be far more vulnerable than if she were to remain here"
"Bloody hell I did not think of that" Lifting a hand to the back of his neck, Colin rubbed at the tense muscle that pained hio to the trouble"
"But you cannot be certain, and neither can I Therefore, I think it best to err on the side of caution"
"Can you not deter her in some way?" Colin asked "Cartland cannot be allowed anywhere near her If he suspects how much she means to me, he will exploit her"
"Have you been able to deter her? Do not expect miracles from me" St John sland, and she taught her sibling everything she knows Amelia can cross swords with the best of men, and she can throw a knife better than anyone, even me If she decides to follow you, she will find a way"
Colin blinked, then gave a resigned exhalation "Oddly enough, I am not as surprised by that revelation as I should be"
"I would have liked to have met their mother She must have been extraordinary"
"I do not have the tirowled "I must be either the hunter or the prey, and the latter role does not suit me"
St John nodded "I understand"
"I wish Mademoiselle Rousseau would believe Jacques’s witness of the events of that night, but she refuses I cannot collect why Why dismiss him so completely? How can she trust Cartland’s word over anyone else’s?"
"I do not knohat it is she seeks, but I will lend you whatever support you need There is little that requires your attention tonight Allow in the search in town You can pick it up toht of do after you"
The thought of spending an inti in the company of Amelia and Lord Ware was a torment unparalleled
"Will you stay?" the earl asked, joining the prepared for you and your acquaintances as we speak"
"Thank you" It was all Colin could e "I will tell the others" He turned on his heel and walked away
St John watched hier evident in his stride "He loves her"
"I see that"
Turning his head, St John found the earl watching Mitchell with a narrowed glance "I knohy I think he should remain I cannot collect why you do"
"Our differences will be aze "I am the best choice for her If I doubted that for a moment, I would step aside I want her happiness above all else I do not think he is capable of giving it to her"
"He is a fore ahead Mitchell has lived by his wits and his sword for several years"
"I aardless of the civilized manner in which I acquired it"
St John nodded and followed Ware’s urging tothe re coach Mitchell was scowling at Quinn, as assisting a grinning Madee
For his part, St John wondered if othertohis head, he clined to hiether, they would strategize the events of the coht made him smile
Bathed, dressed, yet inwardly shaky, A gallery Maria had told her to nap in preparation for afternoon tea, but Ae to roas, to breathe fresh air and clear her head As a child, she had learned that a brisk as capable of alleviatingneed of that now
"Amelia"
She paused at the sound of her na a room a few doors behind her She curtsied "My lord"
He shot a pointed glance at her walking boots "May I join you?"
She briefly considered voicing a kind objection, then thought better of it As hts, Ware deserved an explanation and the opportunity to chastise her, if he so wished "I would be honored"
He s sentleman, and the more leisurely appearance suited hi in Lincolnshire, and the senuine
"How lovely you are," he murmured, "when your smiles reach your eyes"
"It is because you look so handsome," she returned
Ware lifted Aaze beyond her shoulder, where he saw Mitchell at the end of the hall, watching the Amelia’s hand around his arm, he led her away toward the stairs, which would take thearden
He felt his rival’s stare burning a hole in his back for the entire way
Colin watched Lord Ware’s proprietary handling of Ahtened him
He could not bear it
"Youto occupy yourself with,Colin with his sudden, silent appearance "You will act regrettably if you think endlessly of her"
"I have always thought endlessly of her," he bit out "I know of no other way to live"
"She requires ti it to her"
Colin’s fists clenched "It is not fortitude I simply do not wish to kill a man in front of her"
"Alorsyou must leave Distract yourself with a task"
Inhaling sharply, Colin nodded He had been set upon that end when he chanced upon Amelia with Ware He forced himself to look away froo "That wasyou out"
"What do you want rio into town There is soe will follow, and while I find that highly unlikely, the request is valid, so I must stay for now"
"I understand"
"St John is sending a man to rally those ork for him in Bristol Go and direct the search Tell the of import, send for me"
Jacques nodded and set off immediately The Frenchman took the main staircase; Colin took the servants’ It elances sent his way as he exited out the delivery door and headed toward the stables