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His fingers tightened around hers “How did you get by that sentry, Thayer?”

Courtney braced herself “I implied I’d been…sent” She licked her suddenly dry lips “To tend to the duke’s needs”

Slayde’s head whipped around “ ‘The duke’s needs,’ ” he repeated in utter disbelief “You masqueraded as a…”

“Yes,” she interrupted hastily “More or less Morland see”

“I’m sure he did” Slayde looked positively stricken “I don’t knohether to shake you senseless, applaud you, or simply thank God that you escaped unscathed”

“I’m not partial to the first choice A combination of the second and third would be lovely”

Groaning, Slayde pulled her to hi me Miracles aren’t supposed to do that”

She s, steady beat of his heart “I love you Miracles are supposed to do that”

She felt him tense God, she prayed silently, let me help him Let me heal him so we can have our future Please

“I found Grimes”

Drawing back, Courtney studied Slayde’s taut expression “And?”

“And he did his dausting excuse for an establishet by me”

Courtney sat up straight “Then he was Armon’s contact?”

“Not only his contact, but his forger Evidently, Mr Grimes is a h coercion and two hundred pound notes, he gave ht It seeether Several weeks ago, Ar his hands on the infa for a buyer Grimes is no fool; he kno reed to pay Armon three hundred thousand pounds—a —no questions asked Arement; he needed Grimes to copy a note for him”

“The ransom note,” Courtney supplied