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"I’ yourself," she said, twisting in his grasp "Let go"

"Don’t struggle, you’ll make me hurt you"

They were both so involved in their conflict that neither of them noticed the approach of a third party

"Lati the air like the quiet arc of a steel blade "If anyone were going to molest my servants, Latimer, it would be me And I certainly wouldn’t require your assistance"

To Catherine’s rip loosened and fell away She backed up so hastily that she nearly stu a hand on her shoulder to arrest her ility, was in stark contrast to Latimer’s

She had never seen Leo wear such an expression, a litter in his eyes He wasn’t at all the same man who had danced with her just ht?" he asked

Catherine nodded, staring up at him in dazed misery How closely acquainted was he with Lord Latimer? Dear God, was it possible they were friends? And if so … given the chance,to her that Latio?

"Leave us," Leohis hand from her shoulder

Glancing at Latimer, Catherine shivered in revulsion and fled fro down around her

Leo stared after Catherine, resisting the urge to follow her He would go to her later, and try to soothe or repair what dae--he had seen it in her eyes

Turning to Latihter the bastard where he stood Instead he made his face implacable "I had no idea you’d been invited," he said, "or I would have advised the house Really, Lati fe have you had her?"

"If you’re referring to Miss Marks’s period of employ, she’s been with the family not quite three years"

"There’s no need to maintain the pretense that she’s a servant," Lati your mistress in the fao at her Just for one night"

Leo found it increasingly difficult to restrain his teave you the idea that she’s irl, Ramsay The one I told you about! Don’t you remember?"

"No," Leo said curtly

"We were in our cups at the ti attention"

"At your sober best, Lati Why would I have paid attention to anything you said when you were drunk? And what the devil do you irl’?"

"I purchased her from my old madam I won her in a private auction of sorts She was theI’d ever seen, no olden curls, and such reirl was absolutely untouched, and yet she had been told all the ways to pleasure a irl at my service for the period of a year, with an option to continue the arrangement if I desired"

"How convenient," Leo said, his eyes narrowed "I suppose you never bothered to ask the girl if she desired the arrangereement was all to her benefit It was her fortune to be born a beauty, and she would learn how to profit from it Besides, they’re all prostitutes, aren’t they? It’s only a question of circu quizzically "She told you none of this?"

Leo ignored the question "What happened?"

"On the day Catherine was delivered to oods, a man forced his way in and took her Literally abducted her One offor his pains By the ti, the man had already taken Catherine past the front threshold I can only assume that he had lost the private auction and decided to take what he wanted by force Catherine disappeared after that I’ve wanted her for eight years" Latih "And now she’s turned up in your possession I don’t know that I’m surprised, really You’ve always been a devious bastard How did you e to acquire her?"

Leo was uish for Catherine’s sake Fifteen Betrayed by those who should have protected her Sold to a ht of what Latimer would have done to Catherine made Leo ill Latimer’s depravities wouldn’t have stopped at mere physical violation--he would have destroyed her soul No wonder Catherine found it impossible to trust anyone It was the only rational response to i a cold stare at Latimer, Leo reflected that if he were just a bit less civilized, he would have killed the bastard on the spot However, he would have to settle for keeping hi whatever was necessary to keep her safe

"She is owned by no one," Leo said with care

"Good Then I’ll--"

"She is under my protection, however"

Latimer arched a brow, amused "What am I to infer froo nowhere near her That she’ll never have to endure the sound of your voice or the insult of your presence ever again"

"I’e you"

"I’h erupted "Surely you’re not threatening nore your inebriated ravings, Latis did stick in my memory Some of your confessions of misconduct would h of your secrets to land you in Marshalsea prison without so h, I would beyour skull in with a blunt object In fact, I’ the astonishment in the other rasp ht save us both soreater i to instruct my servants to escort you off my estate You’re not welco made an eneretted having once made a friend of you"

"What happened to Catherine?" A room "Why did she leave so suddenly?"

"Lord Latimer accosted her," he said shortly

Aoat--ould he dare?"

"Because that’s what he does He’s an affront to polite company and every standard of moral decency A better question would be why the devil we invited him"

"We didn’t invite him, we invited his parents Obviously he calance "And he’s an old acquaintance of yours"

"From now on, let’s assume that every old acquaintance of mine is either a lecher or a criminal and should be kept far away from the estate and the family"

"Did Lord Latimer harm Catherine?" Amelia asked anxiously

"Not physically But I want soo to her, or send Win?"

"Yes, of course"

"Don’t ask questions Just ht"