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“When I think of her I think of a childhoodteeth and sharp claws She isn’t hulanced at Maeve as she continued to weep “What about…?”

Sebastian went to open the door “Polly!” he shouted In aexpectantly “Take Maeve somewhere safe and watch her If she escapes it’ll be on your head”

Polly hauled Maeve to her feet, not ungently, and led her away

“She said arsenic,” Francesca whispered, when they were alone again

“Yes”

“She poisonedhow much she loved her How kind my mother had been to her” Francesca was appalled by such duplicity

“So I’ve been in the shadows for so long that there isn’tgood Perhaps that’s why I want you, Francesca I think if I bury oodness will rub off on ently

She looked at it for a htly and walked past hih

With a sigh, Sebastian followed after her

Chapter 22

“You lied toshe said as they sat in the dark andstreets of London “You told ”

“Yes I’m sorry, but I had no choice I was specifically asked not to tell you what I was doing in Yorkshire, and I had to abide by that person’s wishes”

“By ‘that person’ you mean my mother She hired you, didn’t she?” Francesca’s voice was accusatory

“Yes, she did”

Francesca fell silent A sudden shower of rain swept across the street in front of the many of the pedestrians into shelter