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Or maybe it was Free’s world that stopped instead Her heart ceased to pound Her breath ceased to circulate Every ato seemed to slow and come to a standstill

What’s the difference between a lord and your husband?

None There was no difference at all

Chapter Twenty-Three

FREE STOOD ALL OF FIVE FEET froht worrying about her She was separated froulf of lies on the other Edward didn’t know if he could reach her if he tried

"Free," he said "I’m sorry"

Her eyes seemed an impenetrable wall At least she didn’t turn on her heel and walk away

"I’, absolutely everything What I did was unforgivable"

She didn’tto do with me Whatever it is you want--a sworn statement that I’ll not interfere with your business, a promise to keep my distance--whatever you want, Free You can have it I owe you that much"

She opened her mouth once, closed it, shook her head, and then opened her et out "Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you let me know?"

"Because I’m stupid," he said "And selfish I should never have asked you to marry me"

Free held up a hand "That isn’t what I meant You had to knoould find out--and find out soon Why didn’t you tell me the truth before?"

"Because…" He frowned "Because I knew you wouldn’t marry me I wanted to make sure you’d be safe--and as I said--there was a hefty dose of selfishness involved" He didn’t have any good reasons to offer her--just that feeling of sickness at heart, of panic at the thought of losing her, at what ht happen to her if he didn’t have her…

"That doesn’t make any sense," Free said "I don’t know that I would have walked away if you’d told me the truth How could you knoould?"

He sed His heart beat a painful rhythainst his chest

"You had to know there was no future in what you were doing," she said "So why did you do it that way? Wasn’t it worth the chance that I would say yes?"

Everything hurt He shook his head "I don’t know anything of planning for futures I always assumed…"

She raised an eyebrow

"That whatever happened toto be awful, nobreath and looked about And that hen Edward realized that they stood in her parents’ hall, surrounded by her father, herover there was the Duke of Cler here, Edward didn’t want to know

Free let out a long breath "Coestured