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The otherDid you sleep well?’ Mr Rivers asked

‘I told him I told him I had to be down at the canal port I told hi’ She jerked her head towards Lord Weybourn, too cross to look at him

‘It is early ot to his feet and she could not help but notice that he did not look as though he had slept in his clothes He was as sleek and self-possessed as a panther What she looked like she shuddered to think

Tess batted an errant lock of hair out of her eyes ‘What time is it?’

The blond icicle glanced at the mantelshelf clock ‘Just past nine’

‘That isn’t early, that is alone’ Tess hopped to the nearest chair and sat down ‘I have missed the boat’

‘You can buy a ticket on the next one They are frequent enough,’ the viscount said, stealing Mr Rivers’s unguarded tankard The ale slid down in a long s,his Adam’s apple move His neck was strapped with muscle

‘I do not have anyher eyes from so much blatant masculinity If she knew any sords this would be an excellent opportunity to use thee that she had never felt the lack before ‘I have a ticket for the boat that left at four o’clock It arrives in Ostend with just enough time to catch the ship across the Channel The ship that I have another ticket for I have tickets, useless tickets I have no o back to the convent and ask for more I cannot afford to repay it,’ she added bleakly

‘Ah Nositation’

‘I aitation was not permitted in the convent ‘I aht me here and let me sleep You promised to wake me in time for the boat Therefore this is now your problehtened her back and gave him the look that Mother Superior employed to extract the admission of sins, major and minor Words were usually not necessary

She should have known he would have an answer ‘Sie later today You coet there’