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Sir Owen stopped short and frowned at the scene that met his eyes, but he shook his head and said, “Well, it is a to me just how much can happen in a short space of time in the country!”

“Sir Owen…have you word?” Mandy asked going forward and allowing him to take her hand and bend perfunctorily over it

“No, I am afraid not However, I discovered that someone close to Elly Bonner, a Hawkins felloell, it is nothing, just an odd thing”

The duke went forward, his blue eyes intent, “What is this odd thing?”

“A slip of the tongue…nothing really However, the Hawkins fellow did cos…”

Speenham seemed keenly interested, “Hawkins? Who is this Hawkins and what has he to do with anything?”

“We believe he may lead us to Elly Bonner,” Sir Owen answered him, and turned to Mandy “What of Ned? Did your uncle actually e to take him in?”

“Indeed, he tried, but they have escaped, as I shall, for I won’t stay in this house with…” she looked at Alfred, “…him”

“Indeed, gauardian I am,” stuck in the duke

“Now, hold on here,” Alfred blustered

“Hold on? For what?” the duke eyed hily

“You just can’t walk out of here with istrate as well as her uncle and although he has chosen to overlook her cri that he will continue to do so if…”

The duke was already taking Alfred by the collar and seething with the fury of his words, “Speak like that and I will take great pleasure in knocking out each and every tooth you possess in that sordid button mouth of yours!” the duke warned “You will remember as I have already informed you, that Miss Sherborne is h I highly recoainst her, he will live to regret it, as I will ht with pain and discomfort”

Sir Owen, his hands folded in his arainst a near-by bookcase and watched with keen interest

Alfred spluttered, mumbled and moved toward the side table where he poured himself a stiff drink