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"I’d never take the sins of the mother out on the child Do you knohat they did to ine"

"No, I don’t think you can"

"I iht ’e’s an ani So ye more boys if I can"

Before Frannie could respond, Nancy was running off into the darkness, her rapid footstepsFrannie lowered the lantern and looked at the boy who’d been left behind

He was the boy ent by the na’s kitchen, sitting at the servant’s table, stuffing food into his h he hadn’t had a nibble since he’d last visited

That Frannie had brought hie spoke volu quite asher was far e

"So he’s Sykes’s son?" he repeated

"According to Nancy, yes"

"I suppose that explains his inability to appreciate your taking the lad"

"I’ht coaze to her She was looking up at him with absolute certainty in her eyes that he would offer the solution without s

"If he’s to stay here and sleep in one of my beds, he’s to be bathed first I don’t care the hour"

She gave him a beatific smile that war he could deny her? He’d let her go once and he didn’t know if he’d be able to do it again To watch her walk away had been the hardest thing he’d ever done

"I also think you should stay the night" He didn’t like the idea of her being out on her own Besides, knowing her, she’d head to the rookeries to confront this Sykes fellow Asthem to the situation No, she’d see it as betrayal He should see about hiring guards to follow her around

"If you don’t an

"I wouldn’t have offered if I er’s"

She released a half laugh "Dodger’s provides me with the means to do as much as I do for orphans" She nodded toward the urchin "We probably shouldn’t let hietting"

She squeezed his hand, may as well have squeezed his heart "I know you don’t like light fingers in your residence, but I’ll see that he doesn’t steal anything"