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Sahtened on his ar and with a peculiar pang he realised he’d spent far toohis brother, or sulking That time could have been spent so much more enjoyably Once they ran this errand he would start rectifyingher back to that wonderfully soft bed so he could unfurl her hair into a dark, fragrant waterfall over her body

Not suitable thoughts while standing in the middle of Piccadilly

‘We had best get this over with What is this errand, anyway?’

‘I need a neardrobe and you shall help me choose fabrics’

His horror

‘You look like a toddler being dragged to have a tooth pulled This is Hatchard’s, silly, not Madame Fanchot’s I need a new set of Desert Boy books I usually read the manuscripts Mr Durham sends me and rarely read them after they are published, because I a for the final version, so when ave it to Ellie before I even read it But now it is officially published I do wish to have a copy, especially since the inally sent htened a little on his arm as she stared at the damp pavement ‘I tried to visit Mr Durha a new book, but he is in Boston co his absence and I did not stay to speak with hiI alorry I shall learn that soer needs my illustrations’

Edge was also a little worried More than a little After a particularly o, Janet had pointed out lies by omission can be just as poisonous as lies by coet this issue still lay between them? How had he not ad the author of the Desert Boy books?

‘Sam’

‘Oh, no, it is beginning to rain Hurry, there is no escape now’

No escape

Edge followed her inside, his uments back and forth as they were swept into a kaleidoscope of pelisses and bonnets and the rumble of the street was replaced by the buzz of people

Edge clenched his teeth This was neither the time nor the place for a crisis of conscience He would consider the issue later when he could think it through carefully Perhaps if he told her while they were ht be less of a shock He could have told her last night while she was lying half on hi his chest while his shaped that wonderful curve of her hip, up and over

‘Edge?’

He breathed in, taking his time

‘Let’s buy those books and leave This place sounds like the camel market at Imbaba and with all these perfumes it smells almost as bad’

She laughed and stroked his arm A woed to both glare at theust Salanced down at her