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"Just now"

"I hear you’ve s But I hope to introduce her to you and Her Grace while we’re in London She and Ahted Where are you staying in Town?"

"At the Pulteney"

"You’re at a hotel?" The duke’s brorinkled with disdain Odd, how Morland’s superior expressions used to enrage Julian Now he just found the Not nearly worthy of a punch to the jaw, at any rate

"Don’t stay at a hotel," the duke continued "You’re more than welcome at Morland House We’ve plenty of rooenerous of you, but Merry had her heart set on the Pulteney"

"Trade research," Julian explained to the duke "The new Lady Ashworth is the proprietor of Devonshire’s finest coaching inn Only natural she’d want to investigate the London hotels Anyway, Morland, you’ll be needing your guest rooms for someone else"

"Who?"

Ashworth took his cue and went over to his waiting coach, opening the door and reaching inside to help Peter Faraday down Yet another man Julian had once been desperate to pummel Christ, had he truly walked around irate for so n and far away now

Faraday slowly advanced, unaided by Ashworth but relying heavily on the assistance of a walking stick The man looked to be in better health than he had in Cornwall, but that wasn’t saying reat deal of pain If he hadn’t healed after six ain

"Mr Bellaivethe nize you"

"Last time wehere now?"

"Let ress--or lack thereof--of his investigation into Leo’s death Then explained how last month, the idea had finally occurred to hiator explored that angle in the first weeks after Leo’s death, but at that tio I received these naus Macleod and Horace Stone They match Cora Dunn’s physical description of theafter Leo’s death, apprehended not aSentenced to six "

Ashworth whistled low "Has to be them Too many coincidences not to be"

Julian nodded "They’re serving on a prison hulk, due to be released in just over a week We’ll ride out thatand meet them on the docks As lords, either one of you"--he indicated Morland and Ashworth--"can easily have the by the turn of the New Year"

Faraday gave a heavy sigh "I told you in Cornwall, I don’t recall a thing about the attack itself I don’t know that I’ll be able to identify the the your me her along," Ashworth said "But someone has to irl away from her honeyripped his walking stick "What a shaue of matrimony Stay far clear of me, all three of you"

With that, he hobbled to the side and lowered his weight onto a bench Julian sensed the e was merely an excuse to take a ht all of five minutes, the poor soul needed a rest Julian almost felt bad for him

Or he would have, if he felt certain he could trust the man

"Morland," he said low, "I need you to keep a watchful eye on Faraday"

"You want me to take the man under my protection?"

"I want you to take the man under your roof"

"Now hold just a an to object

"You just said you have plenty of roouests" When Morland’s face didn’t soften, Julian lowered his voice to a whisper and added, "Not toone invalid"

Morland’s eyes flared "How did you learn that? Did Amelia tell--"

"No, no Your wife is the soul of discretion It’s your ho can’t keep herself concealed" He clapped a hand on Morland’s shoulder "Listen Do me--do Leo--this last favor, and you can have the horse I’ll relinquish all interest in him You and Ashworth can work it out from there"

Morland stepped back "Really You’d surrender your share in Osiris?" Julian nodded

"In exchange forFaraday for the next week?"