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‘Of course they are, darling,’ Serena cooed at Lizzie’s father ‘You greith them’

Darling? Serena had definitely put her father up to this

‘And you can stay out of it,’ Serena sneered as Lizzie crossed the hall to see what Serena was putting into her pocket Seeing it was one of the valuable antique paperweights had grandmother had used to collect when times were better, Lizzie pulled it out of her mother’s pocket and returned it to the shelf

Grabbing hold of Lizzie’s shoulder, Serena shoved her roughly out of the way ‘No one’s going to stop us taking what’s rightfully ours,’ she exclairily

‘And that’s where you’re wrong’

They all turned to face the door

CHAPTER TWELVE

‘CHICO!’ LIZZIE’S BREATH left her lungs in a rush

‘I inald,’ he said quietly

The oodness kne her parents felt, Lizzie thought as Chico unwound the scarf from his neck and shut the door He didn’t need to shout as they did to establish coth that didn’t call for the posturing of her parents

‘You’re getting careless,’ he observed, trapping the stare ‘You should have reine you were in too much of a hurry to plunder the house’

‘Get out!’ Serena shrieked, cowering behind Lizzie’s father, aying alarly now

‘I’ll leave when I’athered here in one place I think this is the ideal rievances, and pick out the truth from the lies’

‘You’re the liar,’ Serena flared self-righteously

‘I haven’t said a word yet,’ Chico pointed out ‘But that’s you being true to type, isn’t it, Serena? I’ardless of whether I even know about the crime What was it I was supposed to have done to you, Serena? I think we could all do with re about that, don’t you?’

‘I’m surprised you dare to ask such a question in front of hter Come here, Lizzie Come to Mummy I’ll protect you’

‘I don’t think so,’ Lizzie exclais didn’tto her parents for support It was too late for that ‘I prefer to make up my mind free of bias, if you don’t mind, Serena As I was little nored, I’m interested to hear what you all have to say’

As Serena stripped off her fur coat Chico realised that Lizzie’s mother was dressed for seduction in a low-cut dress that skihed out loud Never waste an opportunity That was Serena’s ht throw up? she ht He was careful to keep his distance fro here, Serena had left the shelter of her husband’s swaying body to prowl around Chico She ht about tossing her in the lake to cool her ardour, but with all the jewellery she earing she’d probably sink

To his surprise, it was Reginald who spoke first Drawing himself up, Lord Fane said slowly and with considerable deliberation, ‘You don’t belong here, boy This is a tirief, and if you had any decency at all you would realise that and leave’

‘So, you’re not here to strip the place bare?’ Chico enquired mildly

Serena erupted ‘How dare you?’ she flared Co to stand in front of hiry bull ‘You’re just an urchin from the slums’

He alhed He certainly had no answer to Serena’s accusation Firstly, he was hardly an urchin as he towered over everyone in the hall—and though he would never have dean ten times over out of his petty cash

‘Isn’t it rather vulgar to discuss class at a ti stare

‘It’s never the wrong ti herself up ‘I see you don’t deny the charge?’

‘Why should I deny the charge, as you call it, when I’oal has never been to deny round, but to build on what I’ve learned from it, so I can help others in the future’

‘Like you tried to helpweepy now she had realised that her bullying tactics wouldn’t work on him

‘Since you in with,’ he adht, until I realised what you were really like, and what you were after’