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John nodded his head

"Excellent We'll see you then" Alex stood up and shook John's hand "I'ain"

"As am I" John escorted Alex out of the house to the stables where his horse aiting With a friendly nod, Alex mounted and rode away

John walked slowly back into the house, s to himself as he looked up at his new home When he reached the hall, however, Buxton intercepted hi with his grace" He handed John an envelope on a silver tray

John raised his eyebrows as he unfolded the note

I ae John turned the envelope over in his hand His name was not written on it anywhere "Buxton?" he called out

The butler, who had been on his way to the kitchen, turned around and returned to John's side

"When this arrived, what did the er say?"

"Just that he had a note for the master of the house"

"He didn't mention my name specifically?"

"No, my lord, I don't think so It was a child who delivered it, actually I don't think he was ave the paper one last speculative glance and then shrugged "It's probably for the previous owners" He crumpled it in his hand and tossed it aside "I certainly have no idea what it's about"

Later that night as John was eating dinner, he thought about Belle As he nursed a glass of whiskey over the pages of The Winter's Tale, he thought about her He crawled into bed, and he thought about her

She was beautiful That much was irrefutable, but he didn't think that was the reason she pervaded his thoughts There had been a gleaence, and… coone and completely foiled her attehts He knew better than to think about wo his eyes, he sent up a prayer for dreamless sleep

He was in Spain It was a hot day, but his co for the last week

They had settled into a so The locals were, for the ht money, mostly to the tavern, but everyone felt a little lish were in town

As usual, John was drunk Anything to wipe out the screa in his ears and the blood that he always felt on his hands, no ed, and he'd be well on his way to oblivion

"Blackwood"

He looked up and nodded at the e Spencer picked up the bottle "Do you ed

Spencer splashed soht over with hi out of this hellhole?"

"I prefer this hellhole, as you call it, to the deeper one on the battlefield"