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‘I see’

He searched for a safe topic of conversation and found none so he shoved his hands into his pockets and inspected the portrait that hung on the wall behind her It was of a bewigged and ruffled h Sam and her brothers favoured the darker Venetian side of her family, there was a definite likeness to this specimen of the Sinful Sinclairs

‘That was one of the worst Sinclairs,’ Sa up ‘Lucas keeps it to remind us whence we came’

‘I think I can relaring down at me No doubt once Rafe takes possession of Greybourne he will toss my father’s portrait in the fire’

She finally looked up

‘I dreamt about him’

‘About Rafe?’

‘No Your father Or rather of a great big bear withto push me into a shaft, like the ones in tombs’

‘God, Sam I’m so sorry I didn’t mean’ He reached for her but she moved away

‘It is not your fault My dreas You and your brother were in the pit withspillikins’

‘Spillikins?’

‘Yes, that rather ruins the horror, doesn’t it? You were losing, too’

‘Rafe was probably cheating, then’

Her ht of the smile was too much There were shadows under her eyes he had not seen last night in the dark Guilt twisted his stomach

‘Sam’

‘Yourup ‘She said you may have another Dora if you won I dare say she would have preferred someone like her rather than a Sinful Sinclair’

He shrugged, uncoh to his lad you have wed again, especially since poor Rafael is unlikely to, but must it have been into that dreadful family?’

‘Her opinion hardly matters’

‘Doesn’t it? Did you ever ask her why she sent you away?’

Edge was having difficulty keeping up with Sa with him so he tried for honesty