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He stared at her for a very long time, drawn out over many seconds just to torture her, then finally asked, "Is that why you think it's appropriate that I' cake " he prouilty red "No! Not at all! It's just that--What I meant to say was that this is the church for writers And publishers I think About the publishers, that is"

She was flailing and she knew she was flailing He could see it in her eyes, on her face, in the very way her hands twisted as she spoke But she kept trying, kept atteive her a sardonic stare as she continued with, "But I'ht have been triumphant if she hadn't ruined it with a nervous s, "And you're a writer!"wSo you're saying this is my church?"wEr" Her eyes darted to her left "Yes"wExcellent"

She gulped "It is?"wOh, yes," he said, with a smooth casualness to his words that was intended to terrify her

Her eyes darted to her left againtoward the pehere she'd hidden her correspondence She'd been so good until now, keeping her attention off of her incri evidence He'd almost been proud of her for itwMy church," he repeated "What a lovely notion"

Her eyes grew round, scared "I'er to his jaw, then held out his hand in a thoughtfula taste for prayer"wPrayer?" she echoed weakly "You?"wOh, yes"wI well I I"wYes?" he queried, beginning to enjoy this in a sick sort of way He'd never been the angry, brooding type Clearly, he hadn't knohat he washer squir to say?"

She sed "No"wGood" He smiled blandly "Then I believe I require a few ht "I'm in a church I believe I want to pray"

She stepped to her left "I beg your pardon?"

He cocked his head very slightly to the side in question "I said that I want to pray It wasn't a terribly co hard not to rise to his bait She was trying to ser that her teeth were going to grind themselves to poithin ious person," she saidwI'm not" He waited for her to react, then added, "I intend to pray for you "

She sed uncontrollably "Me?" she squeakedwBecause," he began, unable to prevent his voice fro in voluoing to save you!"

And with that he brushed her aside and strode to where she'd hidden the envelopewColin!" she yelled, running frantically after him "No!"

He yanked the envelope out from behind the prayer book but didn't yet look at it "Do you want to tell me what this is?" he demanded "Before I look myself, do you want to tellon the word

His heart breaking at the expression in her eyeswPlease," she begged hi but stare at her with hard, angry eyes, she whispered, "It's mine It's a secret"wA secret worth your welfare?" he nearly roared "Worth your life?"wWhat are you talking about?"wDo you have any idea how dangerous it is for a woman alone in the City? Alone anywhere?"

All she said was, "Colin, please" She reached for the envelope, still held out of her reach

And suddenly he didn't knohat he was doing This wasn't hier--it couldn't be his