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"No, Chetwyn" Her heart going out to him, she crossed over and placed her hand on his cheek She had yet to put on her gloves and she was grateful she could offer hi soldier as a lad You know that Nothing you could have said would have swayed hi His heart was set on it You can’t hold yourself responsible We all have to make our choices and live with the choices hich we , halfway serious, not quite sure what she wanted his answer to be

"We beat him up you know"

"Who? Walter?"

"No Lord Tristan"

Her stoht he came to the club," Chetwyn explained "After he told us that he had atte occurred between you and he We escorted him outside and pummeled him Rather badly, actually He didn’t lift a hand to stop us"

"No, he wouldn’t have"

"I thought he’d have been a better fighter, that he would have held his own against us"

"He certainly could have if he’d chosen I saw him beat off the ruffians thathis clothes"

"So why didn’t he resist?"

"I suspect because he thought he deserved the beating Or maybe he wouldn’t hurt those I care for Probably the latter," she said after a bither eyes, she shook her head "It doesn’t matter The sea is his homeand what sort of life would that be for a lady?"

"If it includes love, I should think it would be a very wonderful life, indeed"

"Oh, Chetwyn" A sob broke free, and he enfolded her in his arrance of oranges

"I vowed that I would honor Walter’s request and see you happy, but I don’t believe your happiness lies withoff today"

"Then it seeoes My carriage is in the drive if you wish to go so me like a hawk"