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Throwing back the covers, she got up, lifted the lamp from the bedside table, and went into the hallway She laid her hand flat against his door She thought of hi the lads with his stories at the Great Exhibition, thought of hi for her instead of a constable when he’d discovered a thief in his residence She thought of hiht of the pleasure he’d brought her the night of the opera

He’d given her confidence that she was a woht desire While he would never marry her, perhaps another would But life was precarious and opportunities were never guaranteed Here was a reat deal Whatever they could share, it would be enough

As she opened the door and walked in, she felt Greystone’s gaze come to bear on her so quickly that she was fairly certain she hadn’t awakened hilided over to the bed "I wanted to check in on you Are you in much pain?"

He shook his head "My valet spooned , then"

"What about you?"

"I should be fine now that I know you’re all right"

"You told --with so trousers if you want to--" He lifted the covers in invitation

"You knew I’d come"

"I hoped you would"

She set the lamp on the table, slipped into bed beside him, and laid her head on his shoulder His ar her in comfort

"You see? I told you we’d find h he had to push the words through the fog of drowsiness brought on by the medication "I want to kno you truly are, Frannie You act as though what happened earlier affected only er over his chest "I think I was furious, o about the rookeries, yet there I was caught by surprise When heI had"

"These trips you ht?"

She had yet to lie to hied her arm "Frannie?"

"Sometimes"

"Alone?"

She nodded

"Dammit, Frannie, do you kno foolish that is?"

"Children won’t approach me if I’m not alone"

"They are not more important than you Hire so seen, but can keep an eye on you"

"You’re getting as bossy as Feagan’s lads"

"Because you’ve become very precious to o there alone anymore"