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"Oh, I don’t know about that," Rebecca said as she poured "It’s only tea"

"Yes, but racious"--he shot a sly look at E man and all Why, I’m a simple cobbler at heart"

"But you own your establishment," Rebecca objected

"Oh, indeed, indeed I have a grand workshop But it’s all built up by the sweat of my own brow My father’s business was quite small"

"Really?" Rebecca asked politely "I didn’t know that"

Mr Thornton shook his head ruefully as if at the ht after I cao, that was Six long years of hard labor and worry to bring my business to what it is today Why, I do declare, that I’d kill any ht to takecuriously at Mr Thornton now His words, after all, had been far too emphatic for the conversation E theHe cocked his head at her, grinned widely, and winked one eye

And Eh her coesture he’d h the streets of London in a state of angry frustration Thornton was neither at his home nor his place of business Some of the information he’d learned today caused hiether with a kind of anient the need to find Thornton i told hirasp If he couldn’t find Thornton today, he’d have to give up the berths he’d bought for Rebecca and hi early on the er in London would mean more days in proxi close to her without going stark, raving mad

A street urchin ran almost directly under his horse’s nose The horse sidestepped nervously, and Sam had to pay attention to the reins for a one, of course The boy had probably had thousands of such near- life, for the streets of London seehfare Hawkers screamed their wares at corners and indeed in the es trundled like elephants, inevitably blocking the ith their bulk Chair the crowd And people--men, woh, low, and the multitude in between--all crowded round, each on their own business, each in a hurry to get there It was a wonder that the very air wasn’t used up, inhaled by thousands of lungs

Saht, the illusion of all the air being sucked fro his brain But that was nonsense He concentrated on his horse and the path i to block out the rest of the hu theh it reeked of sewage, rot, and ss

He repeated these thoughts until the town house ca, but perhaps he could entice her to stop long enough for an early luncheon He swung down froes drew up to the house next door--Emeline’s house The crest on the polished black door bore Vale’s coat of arms Sam quickened his step into his own house There was no point in ain; all that could be said had already been said there

Inside, he gave his hat and cloak to the butler and inquired where his sister was

"Miss Hartley has just left, sir," the butler replied

"Indeed?" Sa? "How long ago?"

"About a half hour"

"By herself? Did she walk or take the carriage?"

"She left in a carriage, sir, with Lady Emeline and Mr Thornton"

The butler turned away to hang up the cloak and hat, cout freezing into ice at the thought that his sister and his heart had soe with a rapist and murderer But of course it couldn’t be voluntary He hadn’t told Rebecca of his suspicions regarding Thornton, but E--

"What have you done with her?"

Saainst the wall A picture crashed to the floor, and Vale thrust his horribly bruised face at hio Where is she?"

Sae to simply punch the other man in the face He’d already done that, and it hadn’t made matters any better Besides, Vale cared for Emeline as well "Emeline and Rebecca have left with Thornton"

Vale sneered "What rubbish Why would Eot her hidden sos spread wide in the hall "Emmie! I say, Emmie! Come out at once!"

Wonderful His only ally was a fool Sa for the front door He hadn’t ti on

But another voice stopped hi around to see Vale staring bemusedly at O’Hare the footave a bow, sketchy enough to alot into Mr Thornton’s carriage" He looked past Vale to catch Sam’s eye "I didn’t like the way he stood so close to Miss Hartley, sir I think so why O’Hare hadn’t stopped Thornton In this country, a servant could be turned off without reference--or worse--for such an act "Do you have any idea where they were headed?"

"Aye, sir Princess Wharf in Wapping I heard Mr Thornton give the direction to the coach? Why would Thornton take them to a wharf?"

"Wharves mean ships"

Vale’s eyebrows shot up "You think he means to kidnap them?"

"God only knows," Sa the point Coe"

"Hold on, there" Vale grabbed his ar Emmie here? Or--"

Sa away from the other man "Because Thornton is the traitor, and he must soy eyebrows snapped together "But--"

"I’ve told you, we haven’t the tirowled "O’Hare, do you want to help with this?"

The boy didn’t even hesitate "Yes, sir!"

"Co down the steps without stopping for Vale’s consent He’d take the waiting carriage even if the otherall the possibilities

But as he e, he found Vale beside hi," the viscount called to his coachman "Fast as you can"