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Dunford winced at the note of reproach in Belle's voice "I aossip to a ues will begin to wag anew"

"Will you cease about the gossip!" Belle snapped "I know you say you're doing it all for Henry, but she doesn't care a fig about it All she cares about is you, and you disappeared this evening"

His eyes burned, and he started to walk past her "I a to see her"

"Oh, no you don't," Belle said, catching hiirl is exhausted; let her sleep And when I said to stop worrying about the gossip, I did not rnean to imply that it was acceptable to storm into her rooht"

Dunford stilled, but he clenched his jaw against the strength of his self-loathing and i were eating hi that Henry was ill, and if not alone at least not with him, made him shiver with cold and hot and fear and God knehat else "Is she going to be all right?" he finally got out, his tone carefully even

"She's going to be just fine," Belle said softly, laying a hand on his arm "She just needs a bit of sleep I will make certain to ask "

He nodded curtly "Do that I'll be by to see her tomorrow"

"I'm sure she'll appreciate that I'll stop by as well" She started to walk away, but he called out her na back around, she said, "Yes?"

"I just want to thank you, Belle" He paused, aher You have no idea how badly she needed a friend It has reat deal to her And to me"

"Oh, Dunford You don't have to thank hed as he left the ball The party had been tolerable only because he had known that he would soon claione, there was nothing left to look forward to It was a to think how bleak life looked without her

What was he thinking? With a shake of his head, he banished the thought from his mind There was no reason even to contemplate life without Henry He loved her, and she loved him What more could he need?