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King nodded, even as so in the words did not set correctly "I shall be," he replied, opening the door with renewed vigor "Just as soon as she’s served her purpose"

Chapter 13

BAKER’S DOZEN?

OR BAKER DOESN’T?

The carriage sh her, hunger and desire coe since she’d eaten a full, warm meal, and perhaps it had been Between her escape fro fro well had not been para had delivered a basket of hearty food to the dark interior of the carriage, she hadn’t had much tier Me up in her seat, keenly aware of her state of disarray, a blanket she did not re nored the war the laces on her borrowed frock tight, covering herself as well as she could with the too-s task was cos: the whisper of grey light that filled the carriage, indicating that it was barely dawn; the fact that King was not on the seat opposite her; and the fact that the carriage was notthe truth, but the little brick buildings all in a row, mere feet away, confirmed it

They were in Mossband

It was all still there, the haberdasher, the butcher, and, yes, the baker

Already awake Already baking

Opening the door to the carriage, Sophie stepped out onto the block that was already there, sitting as though it had been waiting for her along with this little town and all the reensward at the center of town, er than a small house and unable to beits north side, giving the town its naht and the air and the early

"Is it all you remembered?" The words were quiet in the predawn silence She turned to find hiainst the coach, closer than she expected Close enough to smell him, to see the dark stubble that shadowed his chin They’d been traveling without quarter, and he hadn’t shaved Her fingers itched to touch it

It’s not yours to touch

Not by the light of day Not here, at the end of their journey, when they were about to end their acquaintance An acquaintance that had become far too close than any acquaintance should be

She cleared her throat and found speech "It is exactly the sa in this place she’d dreamed of for years; there was a tea rooer, just on the crest of the little slope that curved round behind the pub "Except for the tea shop"

He was looking at the pub "The Weasel and the Woodpecker? Really?"

She laughed at his surprise "I think it’s creative"

"I think it’s ridiculous"

She shook her head, pointing to the rock at the center of the greensward "Seleste cliaze "My sister"

"The one we haven’t discussed"

He did not mention her suitor, and Sophie noticed She nodded "She cliht or ten--and once up there, she becaet herself down"

"What happened?"

"My father caotten memory returned with utter clarity "He told her to jump into his arh "She toppled thehed with her, the sound deep and soft in the early-ht "Did she learn her lesson?"

Sophie shook her head "No In fact, we all wanted to climb the rock and play with Papa after that"

The words ca she didn’t entirely understand, and she shook her head, willing the e at her "Did you cli the corner of the carriage "Yes"

He followed "And did you jump?"

She stopped Looked down at her feet "No"