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The very word brought her up short So and now, Pembourne had beco servants

A frisson of fear shivered up her spine One of those loving servants was a thief and, quite possibly, a murderer

“Courtney?” Slayde gazed at her froht?”

“Fine,” she reassured hiht”

“The sketch?”

A nod “The sketch We should put this travel ti up a plan to unearth Armon’s Pembourne contact”

“We’ll be arriving at Pe on that day, if we ives us ain, however, I think we’d best discuss the ie you should prepare yourselves for”

Slayde’s brows rose “Which is?”

“The way you’re going to behave toward and around your staff” Oridge cleared his throat “Sir, if our theory is correct and one of your servants was indeed Ar you want to do is alert the culprit to the fact that you’re suspicious You must treat everyone as you customarily do Also, I must advise you not to converse openly with Miss Johnston or me about the situation, lest you be overheard, nor to s to anyone”

“What about Aurora?” Courtney put in ie seat, resolutely s fro already Slayde, she’s your sister She’s also a grown—and trustworthy—woman If you truly want to tear down the emotional barrier you’ve erected between you, you won’t do it by lying to her Please I’ you to tell her the truth—all of it,” Courtney added, e the phrase as a clear indication that she included the revelation of the false dia about

Slayde inhaled slorestling with his decision

Oridge shifted unco, sir, but Iyour family safe is my job If Lady Aurora is as ie that there’s a cri rash to expose the culprit, thus endangering her life”

“Reer her life as well,” Courtney countered, never diverting her gaze from Slayde’s “Aurora trusts the staff…and why shouldn’t she? With you away so often, they’re her only family and have been for years Given how much of the mystery she’s already privy to, it’sto the wrong person Unless she’s instructed not to” A pause “Slayde, please—do this for me”

Courtney could see the effect of her plea in the darkening of Slayde’s eyes, the profound expression that crossed his face His reply, when it came, was filled with husky tenderness “Consider it done With one modification I won’t tell Aurora the truth; ill We’ll take her to a private spot and tell her—together”

A riotous surge of eether, intensifying at the realization that he loved her enough to base his decision on her feelings “Thank you,voice