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“All right” Courtney stretched, her muscles cramped and achy

Frowning, Slayde traced the circles beneath her eyes “You’re exhausted”

“I have no reason to be I dozed throughout the entire carriage ride”

“Exhaustion isn’t always cured by sleep, nor caused by lack thereof” Slayde’s knuckles brushed her cheek

The tenderness in his voice, his touch hten, as did the realization of why Slayde wasthis trip—and for whom

For the first tihts returned to the truth she’d been about to share with hi the intimacy of their e, then forgotten during the long, tense carriage ride to Somerset

’Twas time to recapture it

Pensively, Courtney gazed into Slayde’s handsome face She needed hi to Morland, to realize that what she’d done was inspired by love, not lack of faith Her faith was unconditional; she knew he’d succeed in bringing Morland, or whoever Armon’s accomplice was, to justice

For her

But the person for who Morland was Slayde ’Twas his past she sought to resolve, his future she longed to ensure, his heart she was deterrant peace

And, danger or not, she would

Abruptly, her fatigue vanished

“What is it?” Slayde was studying her quizzically

“Nothing I’ht I want to finish the conversation ere having earlier”

“So do I” Slayde looked like he wanted to say ements I won’t be e door and swung down “You rest”