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rn keeper

"Um-hum At least"

"Good Then distribute the the men"

Another startled look "All right Should I say who they're from?"

"Of course Say they're a gift frost them"

"Does this newcomer have a name?"

Not one she can provide, Aurora alerted herself silently At least not yet Once these sailors learn I'm a Huntley, they'll run for their lives And if that should happen before I convince one of theht

"Rory," she supplied, reverting to the pet name her dearest friend, Mr Scollard, had bestowed upon her years ago

"Rory," the tavern keeper repeated "All right, Rory I'enerosity"

"Thank you" With a brilliant s the pub and its occupants Sailors and fisherreat satisfaction Just as she'd sur to old, and in stature froe to scrawny Which of them would be the one to serve as her necessary cohort?

That spawned another concern

"George—you do have rooms here, do you not?" she questioned anxiously

His jaw dropped "Yeah, I have rooms"

"Good" Sagging with relief, she took two enthusiastic ss of ale … and shuddered How could anything so golden and frothy taste so horrid? Steeling herself, she gulped down the re her distaste to appear as nonchalant as possible She must fit in if she wanted to elicit the assistance of one of these sailors

"Fill everyone's e call to his barestured toward Aurora, who raised her tankard in tribute