Page 14 (1/2)

Free went to the door "There’s one last thing I need to do" They’d spoken all this time in hushed whispers; this time, she didn’t bother to moderate her tone

He made a face "Hush You’ll be heard"

That was rather the point Free raised her hand Mr Clark took a step forward, but before he could reach her, she’d rapped--hard--on the inside of Stephen’s door

"You can co voice "Let’s see e have"

Chapter Five

EDWARD HAD SWUNG HIMSELF out thebefore he even had a chance to think what Miss Marshall was doing His heart was pounding; his hands were claround iainst the rough rock of the building, his hands wrapped in the ivy

"Well, dearie," he heard an older voice saying "Is it as you thought?"

"I’ in here"

The old woly business, Miss Marshall An ugly business Good thing you caught wind of it Stephen’s a dear"

Not everyone hated him, then Edward hadn’t spoken to Stephen in years, and yet he was unsurprised to discover that he was still winning wo distastefully "I can vouch for the fact that he’s not been in all evening I went through his things at three this afternoon as he was leaving, and I saw nothing"

Ah Edward leaned his forehead against the cool stone She’d arranged for a backup plan, in the event that they’d failed in their objective Clever

She hadn’t told him about that, of course That was more clever still; he certainly wouldn’t have told himself, either That must have been when she left her paper--she’dto her, Stephen was protected anyway And then she’d brought him a sandwich

Damn, but he respected that

"I’ll take it, then," Mrs Sis, I’ll disclose everything You can’t be found in here, Miss Marshall You knohat they’ll say Go on"

"You’re a dear Have Mr Si else I need to know"

He could hear her coround and waited

She claht of hi," he told her in a low voice "I’ll catch you"

She didn’t hesitate She swung her legs over the sill He caught a flash of stockinged ankles and white petticoats--and then she lowered herself down He wrapped his arms around her

It was a little uncomfortable to let her slide down him Uncomfortable for him in the best way possible: He are of every last shift of fabric She had a lovely scent to her, so sweet and wild, like lavender on an eo when her toes touched the ground

He did anyway, taking a few steps back

When he glanced at her, she was sry at me?" she asked sweetly

"Of course not I told you not to trust ht he knehat to expect from her, she upset his expectations He felt buffeted about, unsure of his footing