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“Uncle Williaet the words out, but it was as if her throat had closed up

“He was always your enemy He wanted you dead,” Sebastian said

“He kidnapped all three of us!”

“I suppose he thought if he only took you soht discover the truth”

“He left my mother all alone He must have hated her to do that He alh poison”

“Mada woman, my love She has triumphed in the end I don’t think Williaht even be able to persuade Mrs Slater to give evidence against hihter as he promised, and instead took the oppo

rtunity to get rid of her”

“Yes He deserves to be punished He alainst hi,” she whispered, burying her face in his shoulder “I thought you’d abandoned o wailing on the moors”

“My love, I swear I will never leave you You are allwould happen to you before she could confront your uncle She said it had to be at the ball, before everyone There had to be no way he could wriggle out of it, or allow someone else to take the blame” He stroked her hair, then tilted her face up “It is over Mr Thorne has completed his final case I can set him aside with a clear conscience”

She returned his kisses

After a ht her eye Two brothers, one sazed down on her, the man who loved adventure, who loved her He had died in India with Sir Henry Greentree, his best friend, and Francesca had been brought up by his sister Amy Was that a quirk of fate, or had William truly meant it to happen? Could she allow herself to believe there was sooodness inside him?

“I am a Tremaine,” she said quietly A tear ran down her cheek, and then another “How strange I was taken in by my own family, and I never knew it”

“Here you are!”

The door had been thrown open, and there was Vivianna, with Marietta close behind her They looked pale, shaken by the events that had taken place, but relieved to find Francesca safe and sound Two pairs of eyes went i her in his arms

Behind her sisters, Francesca could see Amy, and Aphrodite, and Helen and Toby It seemed that everyone had come to find her Her family She heard Sebastian clear his throat