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“Maybe for the reason he gave you—to reclaim whatever’s left”
“Which is nothing, according to him”
“He didn’t react at all when you mentioned that pirate, or Papa?”
Slayde’s lips thinned into a gri”
“Then we’re right back where we started” Even as she gave voice to the untenable truth, an e to keep intact—burst inside her Ignoring the warning twinges that acco over to the wardrobe and pulling out one of the gowns Aurora had provided “I can’t wait another minute”
Slayde was beside her in a heartbeat “What in God’s na?”
Gripping a blue day dress, Courtney turned, regarding Slayde with anguished detero to search for Papa—and that filthy pirate who hurt him”
“Courtney” Slayde’s hands were gentle on her shoulders “You’re going nowhere You can scarcely stand up, much less leave Pembourne”
“I’llis better than this inactivity I can’t lie here, doing nothing, for another minute” She punctuated her words with adaer and frustration “Don’t you understand? I’ time If Papa is still alive, he needsfor soot to do so—now” She clutched Slayde’s waistcoat
“Please, lend me a vessel I’ll return it, I swear But I must…”
The effects of her taxing flurry of activity and her vehement shakes of the head struck all at once Wildly, the roo through her skull in quick, sharp bites She knew she was going to faint, just as she knew—so to catch her
A flash of darkness; a brief snatch of ti a cool compress to her forehead
“All right?” he murmured
Her lashes fluttered, then lifted “All right,” she ht itself as Slayde applied the cool cloth to her neck and wrists “I’m sorry ’Tis just that—”
“You needn’t explain Or apologize” His hard hand closed around her tre Hoell I know that But Courtney…” He tipped up her chin “You must be realistic You’re too weak to sail You haven’t a clue about where to search for this pirate or his ship” A weighted pause before Slayde pressed on, ale “And the odds that your father survived the Channel—bound, gagged, and weighted down—are nil So stop torturing yourself with the notion that you should be doing so to recover him”