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Hal eyed his son with ato do, lad?”

Jed’s angry gaze turned to Sebastian He was of onlyshoulders There was so of the bully in him, Francesca decided, and wondered why she hadn’t noticed it before “I’ as you didn’t do the job properly, Da”

His father and Francesca gasped, and Jed smiled, pleased with the effect of his words

To Francesca, standing in the warm circle of Sebastian’s arms, the moment didn’t seem real; it was as if at any time she would wake up

“What about Miss Greentree?” Hal was saying “You gonna kill her too, lad?”

Jed glared at hi to make up his mind

“Stop it,” Francesca said “I can’t believe what I’”

Jed curled his lip at her “You alas too good to be true Maybe I’ll enjoy wringing your neck, miss”

“Jed—”

“Always handing out your charity, always visiting the poor folk You visited us Da here was over the moon, but I hated it I hated you Well, now I don’t need your charity”

Francesca was shocked She hadn’t known Jed felt this way It had never occurred to her that her good works ht be resented by those they were meant to help

“Jed, you know that if anything happens to uest Mr Thorne, there will be a hue and cry all over the county You will be hunted down Is that what you want?”

“This has nothin’ to do with you,” Jed snarled

“She’s right” Halyou as your da”

His ih to distract Jed, just for a moment Francesca didn’t even see Sebastian move, but suddenly she was brushed aside, and he launched hi over the chair and falling to the floor