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"Even if you don’t" He grimaced "I’ve always loved you, Frannie You’re the reason I stayed with Feagan, but I knew you loved Luke and Jack ahead of me"

"Don’t be silly I love you all the same…like brothers"

"I don’t think of you like a sister I’m sorry for that, too, but I don’t think we can help what the heart feels Do you love hi She pressed her hand to herher eyes "God help me, Jim Yes, I think I do I knoon’t ht of that And please, for God’s sake don’t go deliver a e I wouldn’t marry him even if he asked He’s a damned duke and I’d be a da I’ to need my friends"

"I could never abandon you I’m insulted you’d think I would"

She walked over to hiainst his cheek "Thank you"

They stood aardly for a ain share the easy ca late I should probably go"

"Yeah See you ’round"

He turned to leave and she reached for her cloak

"Oh," he said, co back into the doorway "Do you re up?"

Frannie stilled, clutching her cloak against her stomach "Nancy who lived with Sykes?"

"That’s her We found her floating in the Tha by the bruising around her neck, I’d say someone choked the very life out of her"

Chapter 21

Jack Dodger was drifting off to sleep after just having made passionate love with his hen he heard the whistle Because Livy was snuggled against him, her reddish-brown hair spread out over his chest, she stirred when he stiffened at the sound

"What is it?" shethe top of her head, he eased out from beneath her "Go back to sleep"

"Jack?"

"Shh," he whispered near her ear "I’"