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His voice was dias"

Stubbs’s brows rose They both kneas the colonel and as merely the captain

But Edas undeterred He had spent e, but in this, he had no such reservations

"This woman," he said, "is the Honorable Mrs Edward Rokesby"

Colonel Stubbs opened his mouth to speak, but Edould not allow it "She is hter-in-law of the Earl of Manston," he continued, his voice icing over with generations of aristocratic breeding "She does not belong in a boardinghouse"

Cecilia, obviously uncomfortable, tried to intervene "I have been perfectly well," she said quickly "I assure you"

"I a his eyes off Colonel Stubbs

"We will find her ly

"Tonight," Edward clarified

The look on the colonel’s face said clearly that he found this to be an unreasonable request, but after a tense moment of silence he said, "We can put her in the Devil’s Head"

Edward nodded The Devil’s Head Inn catered primarily to British officers and was considered the finest establishCecilia in a private home, Edward couldn’t think of anyplace better New York was desperately overcrowded, and it see places for its men to sleep The Devil’s Head would not have been suitable for a lady traveling alone, but as the wife of an officer, Cecilia would be safe and respected

"Montby leaves toh for you both"

"Move him in with another officer," Edward ordered "She needs a rooht"

"Tonored her "Tonight"

Colonel Stubbs nodded "I’ll speak to Montby"

Edward gave another curt nod He knew Captain Montby He, like all the officers, would give up his rooentlewoman

"In the meantime," the doctor said, "he must remain calm and sedate" He turned to Cecilia "He ine being ht now," Edward said

The doctor sn that you retain your sense of humor"

Edward decided not to point out that he had not beena joke

"We shall have you out of here by tomorrow," Colonel Stubbs said briskly He turned to Cecilia "In the meanti his memory"

"An excellent idea," the doctor said "I am sure your husband ant to kno you came to be here in New York, Mrs Rokesby"

Cecilia tried to smile "Of course, sir"

"And relance toward Edward and added, "Further"

Colonel Stubbs spoke briefly to Cecilia about her move to the Devil’s Head, and then the two ain alone with his wife Well, alone as one could be in a church full of sick soldiers

He looked at Cecilia, standing aardly near his bed

His wife Bloody hell

He still didn’t understand how it had come to pass, but it must be true Colonel Stubbs seemed to believe it, and he’d always been a by-the-book sort of man Plus, this was Cecilia Harcourt, sister of his closest friend If he was going to find himself married to a woman he didn’t think he’d actually met, he supposed she would be the one

Still, it see he’d re off toward the far end of the transept He wasn’t sure if she was listening

"Cecilia?"