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“Yes—I know the door, and you cannot drivelike this,” she objected

As he took out his handkerchief and wiped a se of mud from her pert nose, it occurred to him that not only did he love her, he adored her What was all the confusion about? Fear? Was he so afraid to take her for his own? Why when everything about her reached some nerve inside him and soothed it, smoothed it, and made it hers?

“Very well I understand, but you can walk? You haven’t hurt your ankle?”

“No, no, I aave him a rueful smile

He laughed and flicked her chin “Very well, then I shall keep your headmistress busy until you fly to your room, eh?”

“Oh, that would be very good At the et rid of me”

“Would she? Why?”

“Oh, a bit of a story there, but I had better hurry now”

“Right then I’ll be there before you Mind now, stick to the woods and then use the back door, while I go straight to her office”

“Yes, yes, thank you, my lord”

“Justin, I have a need to hear you call me Justin,” he answered

“Justin, then,” she said softly before running off

He watched her leave and then hurried down the footpath, across the courtyard, and to the front door

Molly arrived to show him in and lead him to the Miss Sallstone’s anteroo call from the headmistress allowed him entry

~ Twenty-one ~