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Sleep? She would never sleep again in a ain and shook her head

He took her hand and drew her towards a door at the side of the room It led to a small parlour with a desk and a cushioned arden Jash the carved shutters, the scent powerful and soothing

‘Sit’ He eased her on to the bench and ain God, she was behaving like a terrified virgin He must think her ridiculous

He returned with a glass of brandy and she sipped it, grateful to have so to hold in her hands The cushions shifted as he sat beside her

‘What will you do e reach London?’ she asked hurriedly

‘Search for Rafe Hopefully he will have presented himself at Greybourne or at least alerted the lawyers of his return Once I ascertain he is well I will beat hi me halfway around the world If he isn’t there, I shall have to find him You know that, don’t you?’

‘Of course I would do the same’

‘Yes, you undoubtedly would What will you do e reach London? Will your brothers be there? It would be preferable if you stayed with theements’

‘Of course we shall stay at Sinclair House Butshould we not go see your family?’

‘We just have They stood behind us at the cerene as we speak’

‘I didn’t mean Janet and Poppy When was the last time you saw your mother or sisters?’

He swirled his brandy and a trickle skier He switched hands and licked off the liquid and Sa forward Then his words snapped her back to reality

‘Four years ago’

‘Four?’

‘You sound shocked I left England not long after Jacob died Or rather after Rafe removed me to Cumbria’

‘You make it sound like you were a piece of furniture’

‘Close enough I don’t even re removed’

Sarateful he was telling her this There was nothing in his voice, neither heat nor coolness He ical fordom under that bland layer

‘I’lad he was there when you needed him’

He s his shoulders He’d taken off his coat and cravat and she could see his muscles move under the linen, the taut tendons of his throat, the warm colour of his skin He smelled of the forest, not the desert—deep and cool and inviting