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Was Logan worried that she e? You would be difficult to replace at the Capital, he had told her last week Perhaps that was true, but it wouldn't be i actresses on the rise, and Julia had no illusions that she was irreplaceable

As they conducted a full run-through of the play, the company was relieved to discover that aside fro problean, however, see the rehearsal several times to deliver terse lectures to the cast and crew As the afternoon lengthened, Julia wondered how hard he intended to push the actors Rebellious roup until the rehearsal was finally concluded in early evening “I want everyone to be here at nine o'clock to beneath their breaths, the assee dispersed quickly

“You should be pleased at hoell it went,” Julia dared to say to Logan as he stood in the e The lines of his face were set in harsh angles “Instead you're behaving as if the rehearsal were a disaster”

He gave her a threatening glance “When soer of the cos In the meantime, kindly leave that responsibility to me”

Julia was surprised and stung by his foul temper “I e could all be as perfect as you, Mr Scott,” she said sarcastically, and strode away After snatching up her cloak and hat from one of the theater seats, shein her haste that there would undoubtedly be a crowd outside Now that the townspeople in Bath were aware of the acting coan Scott or the other Capital players

As she opened the door and began to step outside, she was i to enter the locked theater “It's her!” soer cries fro for her Startled, Julia wedged all her weight against the door and ed to close it, but not before two men had forced their way inside

Gasping with effort, Julia stepped back and regarded the pair One was heavyset and er The portly one rearded her with an obvious leer The tip of his red tongue edged over small, puffy lips When he spoke, the scents of tobacco and liquor wafted heavily from his mouth

He introduced himself as if he expected her to be iate, my dear, and this isa sparse patch of poned hair “Let e than at a distance”

“Thank you,” Julia said warily She positioned her small hat on her head and pinned it to the neatly coiled hair at her crown “If you'll excuse entlemen—”

They crowded closer to her, backing her against the door Langate's pebblelike eyes glea fahts, Strathearn and I decided to offer our services to you for the evening”

“That's not necessary,” Julia said in a clipped voice

“We'll take you for an excellent e You'll find it quite enjoyable, I assure you”

“I have other plans for tonight”

“No doubt you do” Langate licked his thick lips and s tobacco-stained teeth “But surely you could be persuaded to change thereatly”

“I'm afraid not” Julia tried to push past theainst the door once more

Langate's hand came to her shoulder, then spread over her chest “Perhaps you need a little inducement”

To her shock, she felt hi a s in revulsion, she jerked back and fished the money out of her dress Her face turned scarlet as she opened her mouth to call for help

Before she could make a sound, however, a dark ind descended on them Julia blinked and froze while swift moveainst the door were suddenly gone, plucked away as if by soantic Olyers and scattered over the floor Dazedly she stared at her rescuer It was Damon, his face a cold mask, his eyes lit with ainst the wall like a pair of yapping terriers It didn't seeies and explanations They both fell silent as he spoke to the between his teeth

“If you approach her again, I'll rip you to pieces…and I won't stop until you're scattered from one side of Bath to the other”

Langate's blubbery face turned purple “We weren't aware she was spoken for,” he ed to say

Daate His fingers tightened on the man's throat “Touch her, speak to her, even look at her…and I'll kill you”

“No need…” the o…”

Abruptly Daainst the door Strathearn went to hi arh the door, back into the eager throng that waited outside

Dae

“How…?” she asked breathlessly

“I cah the back entrance of the theater There's a croaiting for you there as well”

“And for the other actors,” she said with a flicker of returning spirit

“Mostly for you” He gave her a hard smile “You seem to be considered public property, Mrs Wentworth”

“I'm no one's property”

“I can produce a certificate of e that states otherwise”

“Your certificate is worth this,” she retorted with a snap of her fingers “Our ality, as you're well aware Any court would set it aside with no hesitation, considering the fact that neither of us was of an appropriate age”

After a long aze fell, and she wondered why they were suddenly so angry with each other She softened her voice considerably “Thank you for getting rid of those buffoons”

Damon didn't reply, his features still tense

“I'll have to wait here until the crowd begins to disperse,” Julia commented

“That won't be necessary,” he said grie”

She shook her head and drew back “No, thank you I don't think it would be wise to spend another evening with you”

“Not even to share supper? As far as I know, you haven't eaten today”