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His voice was harsh “Coirl!”

Heather obeyed meekly What else could she do? She had sunk their household into shame How this Abernathy woman found out she could not tell, but somehow she had

He eyed her, his expression accusing, his lips for a sneer “Is it true?”

That was all he asked He knew that she knehat he was asking She could lie She perhaps should lie

She wondered why he bothered to ask, for he obviously believed what he had been told She put up her chin and said, “Yes, it is” She was surprised at the calm she felt

He sat back “Faith preserve me,” he breathed on a hushed note “I have nurtured a creature of Satan!”

“No, you have not nurtured a creature of Satan, for you have not nurtured anyone,” Heather snapped back “You have scarcely spoken more than a word now and then to me since I arrived”

“Quiet!” he snapped, and his fist pounded his desk,the foulest behavior without blushing, without shading your eyes from mine?”

“No, Uncle, I do not adravely She had no idea where she found the strength to face him down

“Of your own free will you have just confessed…”

She cut him off, “You asked me if it were true I assumed you meant is it true that I, Heather Martin, love Godwin of Ravensbury Yes, that is true and I cannot admit it to be foul!”

“You play ords? You stand here feeling no shame and…” He appeared, in that ain with his fist “You have participated in clandestine s with his lordship, and yet clai evil? Your actions are only surpassed in wickedness by your attitude”

“I aument, sir You askedat you directly when I answered You call my lack of shame wickedness…but I cannot call it wicked that I love Godwin Nay, I am proud of it”

How could she h since he discovered Sara hadaway a confidence, and besides, her uncle still would not understand Her uncle obviously thought Godwin a libertine and she a wicked woman

“You find nothing sha in unlawful fornication with a man who is wedded to another? It is adultery!” He frowned after a pause, and added, “I can see his lordship has taken advantage of you…and still, your upbringing should have…”