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‘The Treasures of Siwa, Lord Edward’s latest book’

Everyone within hailing distance of Lady Buckley’s flute-like voice rustled a few inches closer Before Edge could shift his guns about, Sam spoke, her voice a little hoarse

‘You must be mistaken, Lady Buckley’

‘Oh, have you not seen the ht, but the Tattler quotes Mr Ewan Durham’s words quite clearly, did it not? He was asked about the Treasures of Siwa already being sent for a third printing and he said he expects this will be the most successful of the Desert Boy books yet and that the author is none other than the younger son of the late departed Duke of Greybourne At first ondered whether this er son Did it not, Mrs Murchison?’

‘It most certainly did, Lady Buckley’

‘And then I remembered you have lived in all ht very well be true! My words precisely, were they not, Mrs Murchison?’

‘Precisely, my dear Lady Buckley’

This time the silence that followed this assault was absolute, as if a church’s doe forced a s Sam’s nerveless hand around his ar her or himself She wore no expression, as if she’d stepped away and left her body propped by his side He kept his voice pitched as low as possible when he replied, hoping Lady Buckley would lower hers

‘You do know you cannot rely on anything titled Tattler for veracity, Lady Buckley Such rags thrive on innuendo and invention’

‘But it was printed as clear as day! Why, we could speak of little else at Mrs Felsham’s at-home hour In fact, I just dashed a note off to your mama to enquire if it is true’

‘I ahted to hear fro, we are already quite late to’ He groped helplessly for so, and failed ‘Good day’

The few yards between the shelves and the door felt longer than the path from Zarqa and Qetara and far less hospitable Not that he was concerned about the people around him His only concern was Sas of hell and he deserved every one

He risked another look at her and looked away again, but this time because it hurt He’d never seen Saround fell out froh the roof of the toled on a heap of rubble But just like at thathorse and he finally realised what he’d done