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"Your refresh at Merlin as she carried in a tray, placed it on the table Seeing Aurora, she reached into her bodice and extracted a folded sheet "There's an urchin downstairs who insists I give this own I assume he means you If so, he says you owe him five pounds"

Unsteadily Aurora reached for the folded sheet S it out, she forced her attention on the words

Dear 'friend', it read Thank you for the tidbit I'll look into it at once Lady Altec

"Splendid!" Aurora nearly toppled fro in her pocket and extracted two five-pound notes "I'ets one of these The other is yours"

"Thank you" The baraze was on Merlin "Will there be anything else?"

"Not tonight, Bess," he replied

"If you should think of so…"

"I'll su open the door "But for now, good night"

"Good night" With another wistful look, she was gone

The instant the door closed behind her, Merlin turned back to Aurora "Does the arrival of that note ossip in Devonshire' is on her way?"

A nod

"Then the coffee can wait First, we'd best discuss that co the chair and sinking down on the bed beside her

A quiver—was it of warning or excitement?—ran up Aurora's spine "Very well"

He leaned closer, studying her features as one would assess a fine painting prior to purchasing it "You're a very beautiful woman"

How did one respond to so blatant a cos with men were as limited—as nonexistent—as hers?