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"Ask Miss Marshall who her father is" And then, while Edas frowning in confusion, Stephen winked

Chapter Eleven

FREE FOUND HERSELF BLUSHING as she entered her office It was the same room as always: desk, chair, papers kept in careful stacks But the last tiether, she’d kissed hiht, instead of dark night; she was fully clothed instead of dressed for sleep--somehow, the echo of that kiss still connected theh of her interest shohen greeting Mr Clark that Stephen had noticed, if that last cryptic co

Mr Clark came in behind her She seated herself safely behind the desk, s her skirts into place

He stood on the other side of the desk and watched her intently "Who is your father, Miss Marshall?"

"Don’t listen to Stephen," she huffed "He’s a bit of a jokester It doesn’t hed "My father was once a pugilist I told you he used to take er"

His face went cothat I needed to let you know that my honor would be protected Which is ridiculous, frankly If you intended to force me, you’ve already had the chance, several tiain, and she hated blushing Blushing implied shyness; shyness ainst her

He was looking at her lips "As for that?" he asked quietly

"That is not any ofthat kiss

Mr Clark didn’t seeerly into the chair, but kept his eyes on her desk His expression had gone griht I don’t suppose your father is Hugo Marshall, then"

"Oh, do you know of hiht for a few years, and as he was never in the heavyweight class, he’s not hed and rubbed his chin "There’s an account of his fight with Byron the Bear in PrizeFighting Through the Ages" At that, he finally looked up at her--but his glare seemed almost accusatory "My childhood friend and I used to reenact that one That fight was the subject of one of htened "I named my first horse Wolf after him"

Free huffed "It’s hardly my fault you made a hero of my father"

"No," he said softly "But every bloody tiht to walk away from you…"

"Well," she said simply, "you wouldn’t have that probles"