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"Then--"

He shook his head "It does not matter"

"Simon--"

"What would you have ritted teeth "Refuse to duel?"

"Yes!" She held out her pal "Yes Walk away You’ve already killed four men Nobody will think the less of you"

"I will"

"Why?" Desperation ed Ethan already Please Let’s go to Maiden Hill or to your country estate or anywhere else It doesn’tas we leave"

"I can’t"

Angry, hopeless tears blurred her vision "For God’s sake, Simon--"

"He threatened you" He stared into her eyes, and she saw tears and awful deteraze "Christian threatened you"

She swiped at the wetness on her cheeks "I don’t care"

"I do" He stepped close and grabbed her upper arms "If you think I’m the sort of man to walk away from a threat to ht"

"Even so"

"I will follow you" She choked and her voice quavered "I’ll follow you to the dueling place, and I’ll run between you if I have to I’ll find a way to stop you when you duel I can’t let you do this, Siently "We won’t duel at the last place You’ll have no knowledge of thespot You can’t stop ainst his chest, and she felt his heartbeat, so strong under her cheek "Please, Simon"

"I need to finish this" His lips were on her forehead, ainst her skin

"Please, Simon," she repeated like a prayer She closed her eyes, felt the tears burn her face "Please" She clutched his coat, smelled wool and his scent--the scent of her husband She wanted to say so to persuade him, but she didn’t have the words "I’ll lose you We’ll lose each other"

"I can’t change who I am, Lucy," she heard hio and walked away

"I NEED YOU," SIMON SAID TO EDWARD DE RAAF an hour later in the Agrarians’ coffeehouse He was surprised at how rusty his voice sounded, as if he’d been iar Or sorrow Don’t think of Lucy He had to concentrate on what needed to be done

De Raaf must’ve been surprised, too Or maybe it was the words He hesitated, then waved at the empty chair next to him "Sit down Have some coffee"

Simon felt bile rise in his throat "I don’t want any coffee"

The other ely, looked up and nodded De Raaf turned back to him and frowned "I said sit down"

Simon sat

The coffeehouse was nearly e crowd, too early for the afternoon drinkers The only other patron was an elderlyto his, snatched de Raaf’s first, and whirled away before they could even thank hi froh the room arm "I don’t want any coffee"

"Drink it," de Raaf growled "Do you good You look as if someone’s kicked you in the bollocks, then told you your favorite rose died while you were still on the ground writhing"

Siedin your red-heeled shoes" De Raaf’s eyes narrowed "What have you done to the boy?"

"Nothing His father was in the conspiracy to kill Ethan"

De Raaf raised his black eyebrows "And he helped?"

"No"

De Raaf looked at hi "He fights for his father"

"You would kill an innocent man?" de Raaf asked mildly

Christian was innocent of his father’s criue "He’s threatened Lucy"

"Ah"

"Will you seconddown and leaned back in his chair, ht "I knew this day would coet a lad to bring you coffee?"

De Raaf pretended not to hear "When you would co to me for help--"

Si"

"Desperate Your wig unpowdered and full of nits--"

"My wig is not--"

De Raaf raised his voice to talk over him "Unable to find any other to help you"

"Oh, for Christ’s sake"

"Pleading, begging, Oh, Edward, help me, do"

"Jesus," Simon muttered

"This is indeed a wonderful day" The other ain

Simon’s mouth curved in a reluctant smile He took a careful sip of his coffee Hot acid

De Raaf grinned at hi to second me?"

"’Course Be happy to"

"I can see that The duel isn’t until the et started You’ll need to go ’round Fletcher’s house Find out who his seconds are and--"