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‘Full well, my lord’

‘Don’t snarl, Sam’

‘You started it’

He rolled his shoulders, trying to pull back ‘So I did I apologise I should have at least told you where I was going and how long it ht take’

‘Blast you, Edge I hate when you pull the rug out from under me’

‘That was very ungallant of ise for that as well?’

‘Pray don’t bother; your apologies only h? As long as Rafe isn’t threatening to underive you my word Oswald shan’t harm him He would even have protected Ricki had I asked and he detested him’

Edge leaned against the table She never mentioned her husband and he’d never asked He searched her face for so Sam of old could never have kept so much of herself hidden

‘Detested is a strong word Why?’

‘Ricki belonged to a fast set My uncle was afraid he would not change his habits e married’

‘Did he?’

‘For a while’

‘And then?’

‘It hardly matters now Will you speak with him?’

‘Yes, blast it’ He shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to face the leering portrait of her ancestor

‘Have you hoarded all your curses over the past couple of weeks, or is it the Sinclair influence?’

He didn’t turn to see the s useful about the old Lord Sinclair’s leer—it was an antidote to his own lechery

‘Edge’ Her hand slipped over his and into his pocket, proving hi Every inch of him went on alert ‘We will find him’

‘I knoill’ His voice was far too rough, but it wasn’t anger or dis between his, their tips trailing fabric over his thigh Just a little to the left He opened his estion when the door opened