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"No" Julian shook his head "When I said no one, I meant no one"
Aurora's jaw dropped "Including Courtney and Slayde?"
"Including Courtney and Slayde"
"Absolutely not I could never agree to that"
"You already did," Julian reo"
Flustered anger colored her cheeks "But why? The truth behind the Fox and the Falcon affects Slayde as er and in some waysand protecting a faer Not to mention Courtney, who nearly lost her life as a result of the black diamond No, Julian I insist that you release me from that aspect of ht to know"
"Indeed they do And we'll tell theer"
Aurora looked totally at sea "I don't understand"
"Then I'll explain" Julian pressed on, determined to surmount this crucial obstacle "Aurora, you trustI've expressed to you is the truth Unfortunately I don't think Slayde would see it that way And I' to take that risk"
"You think he'd doubt the existence of the journal?"
"I wish it were that simple If the existence of the journal were all Slayde doubted, I could allay his reservations by producing it No, I don't think he'd doubt the journal, I think he'd doubt my honorable intentions Namely, to restore the diamond and walk aithout any compensation or reward"
"Oh" Aurora inclined her head quizzically "You're concerned Slayde would believe you hest bidder"
"Exactly Reaping a fortune After I seduced his sister intoentry to Pembourne—and whatever clues it contains All of which he'd presume I would do just to expedite my hunt for the very diamond that would eventually make me a very rich man—and my wife a very disheartened woman" Julian's arm made a wide berth "Hell, I wouldn't bla, the ence from my solitary life—if you were my sister, I'd suspect the worst"
Aurora tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear, contereed at last "That's precisely the conclusion Slayde would draw But a fortnight won't alter his opinion He'll be equally as skeptical of your motives then as he is now"
"I agree A fortnight won't alter his opinion But there's one thing it will alter: your ally bound to er undo, skepticism or not"