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The sight of him had knocked the breath from her He was so handsome, so beloved and familiar, that Catherine was nearly overco herself at him She couldn’t fathom why he had co to close the carpetbag, she decided that it probably wouldn’t do to advertise Dodger’s presence before she ed to secure a room for herself "Why are you here,"When I awakened this ht it would be just the thing to hop in the carriage and go for a picturesque drive to Haslen above the door--"Spread Eagle Inn What a fortuitous name" His lips twitched at her bewildered expression, but his eyes ar chin "Your eyes are swollen"

"Travel dust," Catherine said with difficulty, sing hard at the sweetness of his touch She wanted to push her chin harder against his hand, like a cat hungry to be stroked Her eyes stung with the portent of tears

This would not do Her reaction to hi And if they stood out in the carriage yard even a ether

"Did you have difficulty with the coach?" he asked

"Yes, and there won’t be another till e for a rooaze "You could coestion wasthan Leo could have known

"No, I can’t I’ to London, to see my brother"

"And after that?"

"After that, I’ll probably travel"

"Travel?"

"Yes, I’ll … I’ll tour the Continent And settle in France or Italy"

"By yourself?" Leo didn’t bother to hide his skepticism

"I’ll hire a companion"

"You can’t hire a companion, you are a companion"

"I’ve just left the position," she shot back

For just apredatory Soerous "I have a new position for you," he said, and a little chill went down her spine

"No, thank you"

"You haven’t heard it yet"

"I don’t need to" Blindly she turned and walked into the building

Finding the innkeeper’s table, she waited resolutely until a short, stocky h his head was shiny and bald, he had a thick gray beard andfrom Catherine to the man just behind her

Leo spoke before she could say a word "I’d like to arrange a rooive hilance "I want my own room And I’m not--"

"She doesn’t, really" Leo s smile of one put-upon man to another "A marital squabble She’s cross because I won’t let her mother visit us"

"Ahhh…" The innkeeper istry book "Don’t give in, sir They never leave when they say they will When my mother-in-law visits, theto be eaten Your naan, nettled She broke off as she felt the carpetbag quiver in her grasp Dodger wanted to get out She had to keep hiht," she said shortly "Let’s hurry"

Leo save him a look that should have slayed hiety ie for Leo’s driver and foots--had to be brought in "I thought I race to look slightly sheepish

"Why did you arrange for only one room?" she whispered sharply

"Because you’re not safe by yourself You need lared at him "You’re the one I need protection from!"

They were shown to a tidy but sparsely furnished roo, and a faded, much-laundered quilt Two chairs were poised by the tiny hearth, one upholstered, the other small and bare A battered washstand occupied one corner, a small table in another The floor ept and the white-painted walls were vacant except for a fra of a motto embroidered on heavy perforated paper: "Time and tide wait for noodor in the rooht whiff of roastedfrom the cold hearth

After Leo had closed the door, Catherine set her carpetbag on the floor and opened it

Dodger’s head eed and did a complete swivel as he surveyed the rooht Dodger with you?" Leo asked blankly

"Not voluntarily"

"I see Is that why you were forced off the coach?"

Glancing at hie the as she saw hi about the situation was ier seemed toin the bag, and how the ferret had stolen the cherries off the er pretending to be a scarf around her neck, Leo was gasping with laughter He looked so thoroughly tickled, so boyish in his amusement, that Catherine didn’t care if it was at her expense or not She even laughed with hi dissolved into sobs, and she felt her eyes welling even as she laughed, and she put her hands over her face to hold the giddy emotions back I and crying all at once This kind of eht her eyes with a sleeved forearm "Please leave Please"

But Leo’s ar bundle of her against his hard chest, and he held her firmly She felt him kiss the hot, exposed curve of her ear The scent of his shaving soap drifted to her nostrils, theand faasp out the word "sorry" until he answered, his voice low and infinitely tender "Yes, you should be sorry … but not for crying Only for leaving me without a word"

"I l-left a letter," she protested

"That h to keepafter you Hush, now I’o I’ to press closer to hiht her way deeper into his embrace