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“Yes…and no” Slayde studied his sister, trying to view her as a woman and not as the child he’d beco—other than your eyes—and similar builds Otherwise, I see little resemblance”

“Is she pretty?”

“I wouldn’t knoas the curt reply “She’s swathed in bandages and enveloped by bedcovers”

“How long will she be staying at Pembourne?”

“That depends on how quickly she heals” Slayde paused, frowning “A better question is, where will she go afterward?”

Silence hung heavily in the room

“She needn’t go anywhere,” Aurora put in at last “In fact, I’d be relieved if she’d stay as long as possible With you perpetually away, I’m virtually alone, with the exception of the aril over htful”

Slayde’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully on his sister “I realize you loathe your isolation I always assu confined to Peallivant beyond your lighthouse or get into some other form of ht be lonely”

“There’s quite a lot you never considered” A shrug “You’re a loner, Slayde As a result, you expect the rest of the world to follow suit Well, not all of us are able to exist in utter solitude”

“There isn’t always a choice”

“Maybe, in my case, we’ve just found one”

“You don’t know that Miss Johnston will choose to remain at Pereat deal of pride beneath that broken exterior”

“You sense a great deal for a man who spends little or no time around others”

Again, silence

“Does Miss Johnston understand all that’s happened?” Aurora inquired