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Furthermore, Dunford loved her He had said he did, and Henry believed hiazed upon her with such tenderness, made love to her with such exquisite devotion, if he did not love her

Unless--what if she hadn't pleased him? When they had made love, Dunford had stopped short of completion He had told her it was because he hadn't wanted her to beconant At the time she had marveled at his control

But would a man in love possess that kind of control? Maybe he hadn't felt the saency she had Maybe he would have found a sophisticated woreen, country-bred girl No, a toirl at all

When it ca a woman She had to consult Belle on nearly everyher hands against her ears as if this could shut out the pessimistic voice inside her She wouldn't let herself doubt him He loved her He'd said so, and she believed hirave tones, Soive my life just for one of your smiles

If Dunford loved her, and she was certain he did, then he couldn't possibly want to keep ato hurt her so viciously

But then ould Lady Wolcott have offered a specific ti with this Christine Fowler? As she had said, if she was lying, it would certainly be easy for Henry to find her out All she would have to do is lurk outside Christine Fowler's house at the appointed ti, Dunford would never show

So there must be some sort of truth in Lady Wolcott's story, Henry decided She didn't kno she could have acquired this information, but she would not put it past the woardless of Lady Wolcott's treachery, one thing was certain: soht on Friday

All at once Henry felt a wrenching wave of guilt How could she doubt Dunford like this? She would be furious with him if he displayed a similar lack of trust in her She knew she shouldn't doubt hio up to Dunford and question him about the matter Then he would know she had doubted him She didn't know if he would react with fury or cold disappointment, but she didn't think she could bear either one

She was running in circles She couldn't confront hiht be even a kernel of truth in Lady Wolcott's words And if she didn't do anything, she'd spend the rest of her life with this cloud of doubt over her head She didn't really think he kept ain the extreme But if she didn't confront him, she would never know for certain

Henry squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she would start to cry Tears would exhaust her, and then maybe she'd be able to sleep

"What do youstep toward Belle

"Just that, Dunford She wasn't feeling well, so I took her hoht for her, in case you hadn't noticed Half of London decided they simply had to make her acquaintance in the last teeks And then you practically abandoned her to the wolves the ot here"