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He placed his free hand over hers, hard

‘Don’t tiptoe around me, Sam I can’t abide it Especially not from you The worst is no one will talk about Jacob or they do what you just did—apologise and run away Jacob was the best thing that happened in my life I would not have traded aelse’

Her hand was buzzing under his and it was a struggle to stay still

‘I’lad you had him’

The ie of Maria flashed in her mind, starker than usual in the darkness The three-year-old’s dark curls woven into the sky, her s with stars She’d had only a year with Ricki’s natural daughter, but she’d loved her and when she’d drowned it had cracked Sae’s loss, but she understood what he uilt held her silent Ricki bore the brunt of responsibility for Maria’s death, but none of it would have happened if Sah to think she could escape her pain and loneliness by arious Lord Carruthers

The silence stretched until he spoke again

‘I heard Janet telling Poppy she plans to introduce you to soer antiquarians when they reach London’

‘It is rude to eavesdrop’

He tossed the stone he held and picked up another

‘They thought I was asleep’

‘Still rude’ She could feel hi her, her whole left side felt branded and fuzzy ‘Janet is probably right and it would be best I a a corner of my own’

It sounded so weak, so utterly out of proportion with her fears and half-for her brothers find such contentht back this thirst inside her—to create a home of her own A family But after the mistakes she had e herself in that hellagain By choiceagain She didn’t think she could do that

‘Youand they were so far frouilt Afrom the last time he shared her bed, his body slick with sweat as he loo insults and threats, but all she could hear was the scream inside her head and the prayer that he would hold true to his threat never to touch her again until she begged hiust at both of thee stood abruptly

‘It is late We should return’

She rose as well, feeling utterly defeated and not even sure why

‘You have changed,’ he said after walking a while ‘In the past you never would have agreed to return without at least a token argu, Sam’

‘Make up yourwild and now you’re be how tame I’ve become Be damned to you,’ she snarled and marched off

‘Saht up with her, but she walked faster