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“Ah, true, rateful brats, but don’t let Gunther hear you speak so After all, he went to the trouble of constructing a neat ‘surrey’, and there are plenty of blankets for the short trip to town” Sassy laughed with theon, before the doctor saw her deposited in his small but comfortable barouche

The doctor’s driver clucked to his tearoup was off

Grateful, Sassy thought, I feel grateful, but what is it that makes me feel uncomfortable in his company? “This is just so kind of you” She smiled and tried to make herself feel at ease “Indeed, this wonderful idea of yours has given the older girls the courage to talk Miss Sallstone and actually got her to arrange for them to see tomorrow’s matinee”

“Excellent I have always thought that the theater should be introduced into the girls’ studies” Dr Bankes sh the darkness

“Yes, I quite agree,” she said, looking away froaze

“May I say, Miss Winthrop, in your drab grays I found you exceptional, but noith your hair, your gown, you are absolutely ravishing”

Sassy laughed aood man and that she should feel honored to have his attention “You are certainly very sweet to say so”

Suddenly he put a white-gloved finger to her chin “Lord, woe I shall not take of you I believe in playing fair Do you not realize that I have not done this out of the kindness of my heart? I have done this for one reason only—to one end”

Oh, thought Sassy, suddenly wary What was he saying? Was he about to make her an indecent proposal—for it had that sound “To what end is that, Dr Bankes?”

“To put you at ease with me and perhaps hear you call my nahtful name, Sassandra—or if your prefer, Sassy”

Relief flooded her, and she laughed merrily “Oh yes, I do feel you are entitled to call iven name, … James”

“Well then, Sassy, tell me, from where did your parents derive such a lovely name?”

“Oh, I arandmother” She hesitated “On my mother’s side, and I understood the name was taken from the Sassanian Empire” She smiled warmly at him and tried hard not to think of the ly in her ears for the last two minutes The closer they drew to town, the -willed, but it was difficult to ignore the hypnotic call, and her lashes fluttered as she tried to ignore the voice in her head She tried speaking over it and added, “But as far back as I can remember everyone, even Mama, always just called me Sassy”

“And are you?” the doctor sallied

“When I have a ain ept into her mind where she felt the in to take over