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Just before the door shut, Christine placed her hand at the back of Dunford's head, pulling his lips down to hers Henry's fists clenched The door shut before she could see just how deeply they kissed

She looked down at her hands Her fingernails had drawn blood on her palms

"It wasn't his fault," she muttered under her breath "He didn't initiate the kiss It wasn't his fault"

"Did you say so?" the driver called

"No!"

He sat back, obviously deciding all his theories about the general dim-wittedness of woainst her seat How long would it take him to tell Christine she had to find a new protector? Fifteen er than that Forty-five enerous, in case he had to eold he gave her, just as long as he got rid of her For good

Taking deep breaths to try to control the tension racing through her, Henry perched the clock on her lap She stared at it until she saw double, until her eyes watered She watched the minute hand sweep down to the three and then told herself sternly that she had been far too optimistic; he couldn't possibly conduct his business in only fifteen minutes

She watched as theat the six She sed unco herself that since her fiance was such a nice ently That

Another fifteen minutes passed, and she choked back a sob Even the kindest of otten rid of a mistress in forty-five minutes

Somewhere in the distance a clock struck one

Then it struck two

And then, unbelievably, three chiave in to her despair, poked the sleeping driver in the back, and said, "Grosvenor Square, please"

He nodded, and they were off

She stared straight ahead the entire way ho over with utter emptiness There could be only one reason why a ed even after three hours She thought back to their few stolen moments in her bedroom at Westonbirt He certainly hadn't been with her for three hours