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“I didn’ther chin “It just did” She wasn’t going to apologize, of course she wasn’t Francesca Greentree had probably never apologized for anything in her life

“You know you’re in grave danger? These people will kill you if they catch you”

“I very much doubt that! When I tell them who I am—”

“All the more reason to do aith you, before you can draw the attention of the Metropolitan Police down on them”

“You’re exaggerating”

He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled He wanted to squeeze her in his arhtless foolhardiness And he wanted to kiss her, because she was like no other woman he’d ever known

“What are you doing here, Mr Thorne, if it’s so very dangerous?” He knew she was fixing him with her direct look, while that needle-sharphe needed was for Francesca to find out the truth

He sighed, as if he had better things to do “I orking I atching sohtened them off”

“You look like you’re out on the town,” Francesca accused hientleman with more money than sense”

“That’s how I’uise”

“So am I”

“I knew thewhere she shouldn’t be Your clothing is wrong If you want to fit in you should wear your scullery , or else buy fro”

There was a pause, and he thought he’d probably gone too far Just as he began to wonder what she’d say in return, she spoke, and as usual she surprised him “I’ll bear it in mind for next time,” she said evenly

He laughed He wanted to kiss her, and in a ht have done so

Lil ht so too, because she cleared her throat noisily “Miss, where are we going to take Rosie? She needs to be erous, then we have to hide her”