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She waited for him to take a few more sips, then said, "You really do look better than you did at thewith Major Wilkins" Then it occurred to her that heher to Haarleh to head north to "Maybe the next day"

"Probably not then, either," she admitted She let out a breath "I have had ti with Major Wilkins He said that he would make inquiries at the Haarlem infirh" She sed, and she wasn’t sure which of the to reassure when she said, "I will be patient"

What other choice did she have?

He set the soup on the table and took her hand "I want to find Thomas as much as you do"

"I know" Cecilia looked down at their entwined fingers It was odd hoell they seee and square, his skin tanned and rough froer so white and delicate, but she took pride in her newfound calluses They seemed to say that she was capable, that she could take control of her own destiny She saw strength in her hands, strength she had not known she possessed

"We will find hiht not"

His eyes, alht, settled on hers

"I must be realistic," she said

"Realistic, yes," he said, "but not fatalistic"

"No" She ed a little smile "I’m not that"

Not yet, anyway

They did not speak for a fewcorew heavy and aard as Cecilia realized that Edas trying to figure out the best way to broach an unco his throat several tie"

Her heart stopped She’d known this was co, but still, for a brief moment she could not breathe

"I do not question your word," he said "You are Thoefelt that I know you from your letters to him"

She had to look away

"But I would like to kno it all came about"

Cecilia sed She’d had several days to co about a lie wasn’t the sa it out loud "It was Thomas’s wish," she told him This much was true, or at least she assumed it was Surely her brother would want to see his dearest friend marry his sister "He orried about me," she added

"Because of your father’s death?"

"He does not know of that," Cecilia answered honestly "But I know that he has long been concerned about my future"

"He had said as much to me," Edward confirive me I do not wish to speak ill of the dead, but Thomas had intimated that your father was less concerned with your future than he ith his present"

Cecilia sed Her father had been a good man, but also a fundamentally selfish one Still, she’d loved him And she’d known that he’d loved her to the best of his ability "I brought co her words as if walking through a field of flowers There had been good tiather into a bouquet "And he gaveher closely as she spoke, and when she chanced a look in his eyes she saw soht was pride Mixed for certain with skepticis thehten her tone, "Tho"

Edward’s head tipped to the side "I thought you said it was sudden"

"It was," she said hastily "I mean, I think it’s often like that Very slow, and then quite quick"

He didn’t say anything

"Or maybe it’s not," she said Dear God, she sounded like an idiot, but she couldn’t see None, actually, except for my father"