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Rafe restrained an urge to knock the round "A bottle of wine," he said And then lowered his face to the level of the rotund little innkeeper "I would greatly dislike it if my companion and I found ourselves in any sort of scuffle, innkeeper"

"My na back a step "There’s no call for a fine gentleman like yourself to worry about scuffles, not in Hynde’s Black Swan"

"In that case," Rafe said agreeably enough, "I’d like a table in the back next to the wall, with a view of the stage"

"You want everything, you do," Hynde replied "I’ll have you know that the inn’s been crowded for the whole day with people waiting for this very performance They was outside ood view of the stage, do you? Well, so does everyone else!"

Rafe didn’t bother to answer, just dropped two sovereigns in Hynde’s waiting hand

Hynde turned around "This way," he said over his shoulder "You’re lucky to be here, sir Cristobel has been the biggest attraction in Whitefriars for the last months, and this is the first time she’s been outside London in over a year" Hynde cleared a way through the crowd by the si anyone who happened to have a chair in his way

A en was tucked behind a round table, with her back to the wall Her companion pulled forward a chair in such a way as to shield her fro room, lined with maps, ned for a ant fate than had befallen it There was even a dusty old harp in one corner Everything showed its age: cracks in the ht from two candles recklessly screwed to its fraht had fallen frolass, unheeded by the innkeeper

At first Iht the croas entirely loohout the room The men were not so different than those she’d known in her father’s stable, if rather less sober But the women… she’d never seen their like

She pulled Gabriel close "What is that wo?" she whispered, just as Hynde slapped a bottle of wine and two glasses onto the table

Rafe looked over his shoulder A chair had been placed on the stage, and an extremely well endooman had frozen into a pose as if she were in the act of pulling up her stockings Her cheown tossed next to her, as if she were in the very act of dressing Or--perhaps-- undressing Most of the men in the room were far more interested in their conversations or cards to pay her any ," Rafe explained "She’s the prologue to Cristobel" He had just made an uncomfortable discovery There ine--and only wine--to drink And while he could probably drink a small quantity of wine, or so he told himself, he had no inclination to try his fortitude with Hynde’s rotgut Yet surely Ien would notice if he didn’t drink And if she did, she would instantly guess that the man behind the ht It was Gabe she had been kissing so passionately, not hilass off the table

I woher on her thighs "Are those beauty lanced over his shoulder again The woman had an admirable white breast, marked by a delicately placed beauty spot just on the inside curve It alin behind her skirts and occasionally took a shen she wasn’t frozen in place I at the prostitute with rapt attention

"They wear beauty spots to cover the effects of disease," he said "You see that she has four on her cheek?"

"Fascinating," Inaled the innkeeper "What have you for supper?"

"Calf’s heart stuffed," the innkeeper said, "fried liver, pigeon pie--here, you!" He turned around and cuffed a youngyour ale in the alleyway, or my name’s not John Hynde If you aren’t here, you lose your chance with Cristobel,man sullenly returned his sword to his sheath, and Hynde didn’t even pause for breath before continuing, "leg of eon pie," Rafe said, "and le to reply, "do you think this is a flash house?" And a second later he had cracked two heads together and thrown one of the en said, sipping her wine "He’s very strong for so people across the room is excellent exercise"