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John turned to face hihten on her ar, but no sound eed from his e Spencer?" Belle asked

"Just an old acquaintance," John said quickly

Alex leaned down and dropped a fraternal kiss on Belle's cheek "I believe ere about to leave the needs to their own devices" He smiled at Emma, who immediately madea firm hand on his arm "Actually, Ashbourne," he said in a low voice "Could I have a word alone with you before you leave?"

Alex nodded, and the two men went off into the library

John shut the door behind them "I'e Spencer"

Alex cocked his head "I know you forced him to desert the army"

" After I shot him"

"Excuse me?"

"In the ass"

Alex walked over to a nearby table, poured hiulp "Any particular reason?"

"He was raping a young Spanish girl A girl I had sworn to protect"

Alex swore softly, and his knuckles grehite around the glass

"If it really was George Spencer loitering outside," John said caustically, "I don't think it was because he wanted to offer his best wishes to the bride and groom"

Alex raised a brow "Is there es and disadvantages of telling Alex about his plight The last thing he wanted to do was drag a man with a wife and a baby on the way into a potentially deadly situation But then again, he had a wife, and given his plans for the near future, he rather thought a baby ht of these new responsibilities bore down on him, and he remembered Belle's words from just a few days earlier