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As in answer to her thought, the man himself loomed in the doorway She startled and dropped the decanter cap on the carpet

"Well, good evening, Miss Ersssstwhile," Sir Te out the snake sound of her name ‘Are you still a Miss or were you a Miss erstwhile, hm?"

"Yes, that’s clever Urn, you startled o tonight? Up to some mischief, I hope"

"I just needed soainst the doorjamb and seemed to doze for a moment Jane replaced the cap, clicked off the fake kerosene la him But just a few steps down the dark hallway, she felt a hot breath against her neck

"Stay a moment"

Jane turned around with some apprehension, but she did stay She had decided to play this ga, she didn’t want to pass up any plot twist he

"What is it, Sir Teether, perhaps engage in our own private gahed once "That’s a four-person gaht we could be partners A little ink, a little nudgenudge under the table, you understandfor a scenario when alady There was the doomed tryst in Mansfield Park with married lady and bachelor, but Sir Te Henry Crawford

"I think I should go to bed," she said, unsure of hoas expecting her to proceed but not enjoying the gaain She stepped back until she hit the wall

"Hold on, now," she said, stopping him with a hand on chest

Sir Templeton took her hand and held it in both of his His skin was hot and scratchy

"You are so, so lovely" His breath hit her again, and - gagged at the stench of food and fermentation He was clearly much drunker than she’d suspected

"Sir Te Or perhaps, blinking poorly "Me and the missus sleep in separate beds, don’t tell her I told you, and have been so lonely, lonely and cold, cold like your sweet hands We never had a speci and pretty and taut as yourself"

She tried to push hiainst the wall A lamp fixture above her rattled at the pact His hands held both of hers, his round belly pressed against her, hisbeauty like yourself is lonely, too It can be part of the gahly done with this

His ansas to lean in closer So she kneed hiroin As hard as she could

"A, dammit!" He doubled over and thudded onto knees

Jane brushed off her knee, feeling like it had touched son thing dirty "A, da?"

Jane heard hurried footsteps co down the stairs It Mr Nobley

"Miss Erstwhile!" He was barefoot in his breeches, his shirt untucked He glanced down at the groaning man "Sir Templeton!"