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"Have you seen your wife in the past week?" she demanded

"No, I don't believe I ha- Oh, wait a minute" He took a sip of brandy "I passed her in the hall a few days ago Tuesday, I think it was"

"She is over eight el"

"I assure you, I am aware"

"You are a cur to leave her alone in her tis clear, she left el"

"I'll call you whatever I damned well please"

Turner raised his brows at the first use of profanity he'd ever heard escape his ratulations, you've sunk to rabbed the glass out of his hand Amber liquid splashed out onto the desk "I ael You're just as bad as when you ith Leticia You're hateful, rude- " She broke off when his hand wrapped around her wrist

"Don't everMiranda to Leticia," he said in avoice

"I didn't!" Her eyes widened in surprise "I would never dreao of her suddenly and walked over to theThe landscape was as bleak as his mood

His mother remained silent for quite soe your e, Turner?"

He let out a weary breath "Why are you so certain that it is I who need to do the salvaging?"

"For the love of God, just look at the girl She is obviously in love with you"

His fingers gripped the sill until his knuckles turned white "I've seen no indication of that lately"

"How could you? You haven't seen her in weeks For your sake, I hope you haven't killed whatever it was she felt for you"

Turner said nothing He just wanted the conversation to end

"She is not the sao," hisfor you"

"Things change, Mother," he said tersely

"And they can change back," Lady Rudland said, her voice soft yet insistent "Co It's terribly aithout you"

"It will be far e of that"

Turner stood straight, taking a long, shaky breath Was his ht? Could he and Miranda resolve their differences?

"Leticia is still in this house," his o Let Miranda heal you She will, you know, if you'd only give her the chance"

He felt his mother's hand on his shoulder but he did not turn around, too proud to let her see the face of his pain