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His sister looked at him sharply 'What do you mean? Why isn't she?'

Hazel ondering the sa to stay on

Rafe appeared unperturbed by Celia's aggressive attitude 'She isn't leaving because I've asked her to stay,' he told her calmly

Celia stiffened 'You've what?'

'I've asked her to stay—and she's accepted'

Celia turned furiously on the still silent Hazel 'You little cat! You lying little bitch!' HerIt didn't take you long to start wheedling around Rafe again I suppose you're paying for your keep with services rendered,' she added insultingly

Rafe's htened, a certain whiteness about his lips 'You'll apologise for that rerimly

She turned on her heel, ise to that little—to her,' she a step in her direction

42 yesterday's scars

'And don't worry, I'ether in three years Perhaps you deserve her after all!' With that she slammed out of the room

CHAPTER THREE

Hazel was deathly pale, Cilia's insults having hurt her more than she cared to ads, and in front of Rafe too! Her face flooded with colour now as she looked at hi the sa arhts up with a start; she hts out of her head

'I'll see that she apologises for her rudeness when she returns,’ Rafe said hardly

Hazel looked unco that if Celia were forced to do such a thing her resentrow—if that were possible 'It isn't iht of it 'When I was a child there was little I could do about providing for my keep, but now that I'er’

His blue eyes had narrowed to icy slits 'Meaning?'

She shrugged 'Meaning I can't accept your charity any longer'

His face was livid with anger, the scars standing out whitely against his otherwise swarthy skin 'It was never charity and you know it!'

'You never htful for that, but I realise nohat a burden I must have been, both eh to show her resentment'

'Are you saying I'm not?' he queried mildly, too mildly

Her eyes pleaded for his understanding of what she was trying to say 'You know I didn'tto tell you that I understand Celia's attitude towards me, her resentment I'm not even related to you really'

'I realise that’

She looked at hi unnoticed She had always been aware that ether approved of her father as a husband for Marisa Savage, but she had never realised that Rafe was of the same opinion She resented his condescension

Consequently her ansas sharper than she ht otherwise had intended it to be ‘So if I'm to stay I'll have to work for my keep'

'In ay?'

She blushed as she re as your helper with the paperwork, of course,' she said quickly

Rafe gave a wicked grin at her eht Shame!'

'Rafe!' she blushed anew

He gave a husky laugh ‘Only joking, Hazel Only joking'

Sara bustled in to announce dinner, waiting on theeneral through dinner, with Rafe wanting to know more about her time spent in Aoing so far as to tell hi her first few months as Jonathan's secretary

Rafe sipped his brandy, perfectly relaxed as he sat in one of the armchairs 'I'm sure Jonathan understood'

She frowned 'You know him?’

'Only slightly'

'I didn't realise,' she said slowly

'Why should you? I only said I knew hihtly I know his son better Did you like Josh?'