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“I don't knohat you intend when you read the line that way,” Arlyss Barry had actually dared to co rehearsal the previous day “I don't kno my character should react when I can't tell what you're supposed to be feeling”
“Worry about your own perforan had snapped, “and I'll take care of mine”
“But my character—”
“Have your character react any way you like I don't give a bloody damn”
And Arlyss had continued the rehearsal with flat, une his own Logan had been teht have provoked the entire coht rebellion
Perhaps the atmosphere at the theater would return to nor influence and diploan to rediscover the inner reservoir of emotion he had always tapped for his performances
Another endless silence passed, and then Julia dared to bring up the subject that lay at the heart of everything “Any news of Madeline?”
He gave her a guarded look and didn't reply
“Arlyss told me what little she and the others knew,” Julia uess the rest”
Reluctantly Logan told her the briefest possible version of the story “It seems that Madeline decided toherself of her virginity,” he concluded dryly, “and I was enlisted to help her”
Julia's turquoise eyes darkened in consternation Carefully she set aside the collection of dolls “And the two of you actually…”
Logan spread his hands in a esture of appeal “Who was I to resist such charms?”
A froorked across Julia's brow “You must not have realized what Maddy had planned until after…” Her voice faded “Oh, Logan,” she whispered
“No har at her sympathy “Miss Matthews acco her Everyone was satisfied” As Julia continued to stare at hian to wander around the room as if it were a prison cell
Most men would have been able to dismiss the matter without difficulty, perhaps even count theirl's virginity with no obligations Why, then, was it still twisting hie of Madeline's betrayal just as painful—more so—than it had been the day she had left?
Logan was able to fill the daytiht of Maddy rarely entered his ht his sleep was broken by dreams of her She had cared for him so tenderly when he was ill, had fed and bathed and cooled hi bearable There had never been a need for anyone to take care of hi, had made him love her
The realization that Maddy had only done those things in order to serve her own purposes nearly drove hied and twisted in his bed until the sheets for he woke up exhausted and angry, hating hih to cross his path
“I don't believe there was any malice in Maddy's actions,” Julia said quietly “Only the thoughtlessness of a child It speaks of her innocence that she would have dared to meddle with a man like you—she couldn't possibly have understood what she was doing”
His hand h about her She's irrelevant to anything we have to discuss”
“How can you say that when it's obvious that you still haven't recovered from what happened?”
“I don't want to talk about her”
“Logan, you'll never have any peace until you find soive Maddy”
“Mention her naain,” he said softly, “and our partnership is over” The threat was in deadly earnest
Suddenly Julia looked every inch a duchess, her nostrils flaring with hauteur “I don't like your tone”
“Forgiveher cool glare
After a moment Julia's tee,” she said, avoiding the use of Madeline's name, “I ran away from my family for a very similar reason I wanted to escape the plans my father had made for me I can't blame her for that, and neither should you”
“I don't I bla a liar and a manipulator”
“What's going to happen to her now?”
“I don't care”
“Of course you care,” Julia replied, staring at his gri co you to shreds You've lost weight, which h you're at the end of a week-long hangover This is far more than wounded pride Fro apart around you”
There was no hangover A hangover would co, and that wasn't likely to happen for a while Logan gave Julia a glacier-cold s apart Every actor is due for bad reviews at so his career It's et used to the fact that I'ht, it's because I've been doing so play And letclear—I never loved Madeline I desired her, I had her, and now I'm finished with her”
The housemaid's tap on the door was a welcome interruption She entered the rooan a shy smile as she passed
“You don't have to be honest withat him with exasperation “But at least be honest with yourself”
It was early evening at Somerset Street, and Madeline's heart drue, She stared at Mrs Florence's house with a mixture of hope and trepidation
“Shall I tell the driver to bring the bags in?” her maid inquired
Madeline hesitated before replying “I don't knoe'll be staying, Nore for a few minutes while I call on my friend”
“Yes, miss”
Madeline sratefully It was only because of the maid's kind and sympathetic nature that she was able to pay a visit to Mrs Florence At thisat her sister Justine's hoed note sent to her sister and a bribe to the family driver, they wouldn't be expected until tomorrow “Thank you, Norma,” she said quietly “I don't kno to thank you for keeping this visit to Mrs Florence a secret I know the risk you're taking by helping me”