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She met his eyes "That’s all you ith me--to convince me to leave?"

"No" He spoke calmly "But what I ith you is neither here nor there I need you to go away, and so go away you shall"

"Not for fifty pounds and a reference," Serena answered just as calmly "How could you think a reference would paper over what happened to me? I want justice, Mr Marshall Not a reference"

He leaned toward her "Did he force you?" There was soht--that horrible night--recreated itself in her ret She was te silence

She forced herself to s that bitter swirl of emotion She raised her chin and looked him in the eyes

"No" Her voice broke on the word, but she did not look down "He did not force me"

I let him do it

There entleness as he took the teacup frohtest trace of charity in his voice when he spoke "Then it’s fifty pounds and a reference," he said "And not one iota of revenge"

Chapter Four

THE MESSENGER RETURNED FROM Wolverton Hall the day after the rain Hugo stood at theof his office, looking over the square below

It was dry today, and the pensioners were back on the solitary bench If he read a rebellious cast into her stance… What did it

He didn’t take his eyes fro behind him

"So," he finally said "What happened?"

He’d sent Charles Gordon to find things out The o Froo saw the other ht in front of hi his lips "She was turned off for io’s voice was even--all too even He kneas coossip is that she took a man to her bed In the house, if you’ll believe it"

"She was caught in the act?"