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She thought briefly of her mother’s penicillin farht Then they were there, and she could no longer distract herself froled with the key, and the panic she had been suppressing all day swept over her She had no idea what to say, what to do What was she doing here?

Lord John squeezed her arement She took a deep breath of the dank wet air, ducked her head, and stepped inside

He sat on a bench at the far side of the cell, eyes fixed on the door He’d clearly been expecting someone--he’d heard the footsteps outside--but it wasn’t her He jerked in startleht swept over him

She heard a faint metallic clink; of course, they’d said he was in chains The thought gave her a little courage She took the lantern froainst the wooden door, studying him in silence He seemed smaller than she reer

"Do you knoho I aed, with no echo Her voice sounded s His eyes traveled slowly over her

"I don’t think ye were after tellin’ me your nae took her by surprise, and she choked it back, clenching her fists behind her If she had coood start

He shrugged, good-natured but cool

"As ye will No, I don’t knoho you are I’ll know your face--and a few other things"--his teeth gleamed briefly in the blond stubble of his beard--"but not your nanize h pursed lips, looking her over carefully He was a good bit the worse for wear, but it hadn’t impaired his assurance

"Oh, indeed I do" He seemed amused, and she wanted to cross the room and slap him, hard Instead, she took a deep breath That was a e rose suddenly and violently She hadn’t been sick before, but the stench of hi in her She had barely tiested food ca the daainst the wall, waves of hot and cold running over her Finally, she wiped herthere, watching her She’d set the lantern on the floor It threw a yellow flicker upward, carving his face froht have a been a beast, chained in its den; only wariness showed in the pale green eyes

"My na it

"Brianna Fraser A lovely naether "And?"

"My parents are James and Claire Fraser They saved your life, and you robbed them"

"Yes"

He said it with complete matter-of-factness, and she stared at hih, as unexpected as the surge of nausea had been What had she expected? Res because he wanted the back the jewels, I’m afraid you’ve left it too late," he said pleasantly "I sold the first to buy a ship, and the other tere stolen from me Perhaps you’ll find that justice; I should think it cold co bile

"Stolen When?"

Don’t trouble yourself over the er had said It’s odds-on he stole it froged

"Soer had ht have been safe transport for them both Cold co, was it? But you got that back" He s his teeth this ti to her belly, gone round and tight as a basketball under her cloak

His gaze stayed on her face, mildly curious

"Have we business still to do then, darlin’?"

She took a deep breath--through her "

"They told ain on the hard wooden bench He stretched his head to one side, to ease theat her "You’ll not have coh, I shouldn’t think"

"No," she said, watching hihtfully "To be honest, I’ll rest a lot easier once you’re dead"

He stared at her for a h that tears ca his head to swipe his face against a shrugged shoulder, then straightened up, the hter still on his face

"What is it you want from me, then?"

She opened her mouth to reply, and quite suddenly, the link between theh she had taken one step across an impassable abyss She stood now safe on the other side, alone Blessedly alone He could no longer touch her