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“Show me,” he demanded

“I don’t think—”

“Which shoulder?”

Francesca sighed “The left”

He began to peel down the coverlet with quick, impersonal movements She was still dressed, of course, so then heline of buttons About halfway down he had enough slack to draw the garment over her left shoulder and down her arm, so that he could examine her for any injury

Francesca was still shivering She supposed she should be horrified at her situation, and his actions, but she’d gone beyond horror All she wanted was to be warain

“You have the beginnings of a fine bruise,” he said levelly He stroked her skin lightly with his fingertips “Can you lift your arm?”

She did so, carefully He grasped her elbow through the woolen cloth and manipulated it in a professional manner “No pain?” She shook her head He rewrapped her in the cover, leaving her dress half undone “I have so away

“I hate brandy” She crept closer to the fire, holding out her hands A long, wet strand of hair fell forward “Mr Thorne…”

“Sebastian,” he corrected her, finding the brandy and uncorking it “I think we’ve gone beyond formalities, don’t you?”

“What are you doing here? Why did Jed want to harm you…us? I don’t understand”

He handed her a glass with a bare inch of liquid in it “Adventures don’t alwaysout of the bottle with his eyes closed and his head tilted back When he looked at her again, the firelight flickered on his face, e it was that she should feel as if she knew him so well, when she didn’t know him at all

Why, he could be a…a highwayht find her alone in his room, and before she knew it…She sed and tried to halt her ier

“Why did Jed want to kill you?” she repeated “Are you from Scotland Yard?”

He sh my profession is of a similar nature”