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More light was bobbing his way He couldover someone--

"Frannie!"

Theyelled to his footmen as he knelt beside the crueworth said as he held a la couldn’t respond His throat was thick with tears Very gently he cradled her in his arms and stood He sed down the knot of fear "When Catherine fainted, Claybourne sent one of the servants to fetch a Dr Graves"

"Yes, Your Grace That would have been Jessup"

"Send him for Graves Immediately"

She lay so still that Sterling kept his fingers pressed to the pulse at her neck, feeling the slight, faint fluttering She had a horrible gash on her head One of the own so she’d beIt was evident they’d been beating her If only he’d seen them If only he hadn’t stopped on the stairs If only he had better vision at night If only…

Sending for Graves was like putting out word using a telegraph Claybourne, Catherine, and Swindler arrived in short order and were quickly followed by Dodger, who brought along a disreputable-looking chap he introduced as Feagan The old lorious red hair spread out over the pillow This was theby the way he watched her, as though it would kill hiht of it

"She’s taken quite a blow to the head," Graves said as he leaned over, opening one closed eye and then the other He straightened and glanced around "I need all of you except Lady Catherine to leave so I can examine her more fully"

Several mouths opened--

"You heard hiood by delaying this We’ll join you in the library e know , he stayed where he was--standing beside the bed, gazing down on her Catherine touched his ar, you must leave as well"

"I need aarea

Sterling bent over and whispered near her ear, "Please, sweet Frannie, don’t let Sykes take you I swear to you that I’ll never let hih but it was all he could offer her