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"Walter?"

The word came out like the crack of a whip

"My fiancé It’s the reason he arranged for his earnings to be sent to me His brother is a o into the fa"

"Is that what you were using to finance this voyage?" His voice was a bit more relaxed, but flat, the way the sea looked in the distance, as though nothing at all disturbed for good or ill

"Yes" She dared to look back at hi as paltry as a kiss? I’er to kisses"

"Kisses and I are well acquainted, and so I know their value Every woman’s kiss is different Soether from threads of silk Soarlic and so sound before unfurling thee wine Soh a sweetafter she is no longer there A kiss can be all things It can be profound" He shrugged "Or it can be forgettable"

She couldn’t iettable Would he forget hers?

"And if you discover that e?"

"I don’t think there’s a chance in hell of that happening" With a wide grin he got to his feet, towering over her, and set what ree on her plate "I have to check my charts, see toin htly "Your cabin"

"Yes, of course"

"Until later then" He gave a brusque nod and strode away

She rose and walked to the railing where nothing blocked the breeze fro her skin Walter had kissed her, but she could not remember the flavor or the texture or the waruilt: she’d not savored every kiss as though it ht be their last

At the bottom of the steps, Tristan nearly ran into her lance told him that it was finely ave the maid a closer inspection She wasn’t a beauty, not like her mistress, but she possessed a prettiness that he suspected drew attention And soled at his mind "Have we met before?"