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"Perhaps, but what if he succeeds? Or even worse, what if he ets you? Belle, I promise you that ill not have to run from this man all of our lives I will deal with hier You must trust me-this is not a man hom any wohtly "Belle, I can't live without you Don't you realize he now has two targets? If he kills you, he ht as well have killed ent words "I love you, too, John And you kno nervous I a over et a better chance to trap Spencer than tonight"

"I'll go, then" Heho to wait in my room like a terrified little ether we can do anything Alone, we're nothing Have faith inme not to take any unnecessary chances Allow h to worry about without having to keep an eye on you"

"John, for one last ti Do you love edly "You know I do"

"Well, the woman hom you fell in love is not the kind of woman who can sit patiently at hoer I think we can trap Spencer if we have enough people on our side He's obviously not very bright He couldn't even wreck a carriage properly With all five of us working together, we can beat hihthappens to you…"

"I know, darling I feel the sa to happen I love you too ht blue eyes, shining with love and faith and hope "Oh darling," he said huskily "You heal me You make me believe that I actually deserve all this happiness"

"You do"

John placed his hands gently on her shoulders "Hold still for a moment," he said softly "I just want to look at you I want to carry this picture of you with me for the rest of my life I don't think you've ever looked as beautiful as you do right now"

Belle flushed with pleasure "Don't be silly My dress is crumpled, and I' Just look at ht your eyes look alhed softly "Youme to fruit"

"Do I?" John couldn't take his eyes off her lips, which he had just been thinking looked like ripe cherries

"Yes, you once said ht I've been hungry since Ilovers!"

John and Belle finally tore their eyes off of each other and turned, blinking, to Dunford, alking their way

"If the two of you can stopverbal love to each other, we can be on our way In case you hadn't noticed, the fresh carriage is here"

John took a deep and ragged breath before turning to Dunford and saying, "Tact, I take it, was not e"

Dunford smiled merrily "Not at all Shall we be off?"