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Mathew ignored it and continued to hunt through the box

Alice glanced at the grinning youngat his easel, and er but just as rakish

'Ralph' She save a sheepish smile and moved to one side

She had expected a nude but found a Madonna and Child The flesh tones of the infant were executed to perfection and there was nothing licentious about Mary

She moderated her voice 'It's beautiful'

'Thank you, ed hinorant successor to the wild adolescent she'd known but his work told a different story A sudden i for rin returned 'That would be n for the Julian Inn Perhaps you could paint one as a gift to the good people of Sherborne'

'Your wish is my comht he would try to kiss her But he merely bowed

Back on the street she could scarcely contain herself The wind blew her hood to one side She pulled it back and turned to Harald as escorting her back to the alnised him He was no more than fifteen e last met but he already had that wild look His naave an ironic laugh

'Yes, I know the to take back her dowry'

Alice felt his pain 'On what possible grounds?'

'Theythey're …'

Alice had noticed that Harald's voice failed him whenever he was nervous

'I'm sorry I shouldn't pry into your affairs'

'No' He see and I wouldn't like you to hear it from the lips of others'

They stopped near the site for the new almshouse Harald told her about the claie contract invalid as a consequence She listened as one distressing detail followed another To be called a cuckold was bad enough To have it said that you were cuckolded by your fourteen-year-old brother was devastating

'Does Williaoes to court He's twelve He's not a little boy anymore He'll find out'

'Whatever will he think?'

'He'll love it' Harald choked back tears 'He worships Guy He'll be delighted to think that Guy is his father and not his uncle'