Page 19 (1/2)

He see to the blacksmithy,” he said finally

“Hal?” She was surprised “Is it Hal you want to see?”

“Francesca, please don’t ask questions”

But she wasn’t a servant, to be told when to be quiet She was Francesca Greentree, and she had been brought up to speak her s you out in the al business, or are you a sh, and I have heard that there are men who seek to profit from contraband Are you one of them?”

“Ah, you havelike an actor in a bad play

“Rubbish,” she retorted “I don’t believe it What are you up to?”

He sighed “No, I aler, but that’s all I can say Now, please, can we find Hal before dawn breaks? Do you want to be discovered?”

Without another word she led hie There was a lantern outside the inn, put there to guide late-night travelers The blacksmithy was down a narrow lane Small dark s stared at them from the upper rooms

“Hal lives over his shop,” she explained “He’s probably asleep”

“His son?”

“Jed left years ago Why are you—”

“He has no wife or…or mother?”

“No one He lives alone” He was so serious, so intent, that she was beginning to getto hurt Hal, are you? I can’t allow that,” she added firmly

Sebastian dismounted, and when he looked up at her she couldn’t read his face very well in the shadows and the starlight, no matter how she tried “Stay here and ith the horses”

Suddenly Francesca knew she shouldn’t have come She didn’t trust hiret it