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He had been heartily thankful for James Bankes’s timely entrance He had suspected that the doctor and the headmistress were more than professional friends Now, he was certain of it The notion that Bankes had spent time with Sassy made him furious with sudden tension What is that—jealousy, he asked himself

Sassy’s green, innocent eyes took over his thoughts Her ht in her drea dark about it Passionate but not dark, and he admitted to himself that he wanted her with all his heart

He had told her he hadn’t a heart to give, but he knew that was a lie—did she know it as well? Would she give up on his off?

Why had she followed the iers earlier? What did she have to do with such as he? Why had she recognized To that Just how much did she know?

He couldn’t think about that because his need to have her in his ar hard-on that spelled out one name, hers, over and over He had not been out of control since his first heartbreak, but this … this was like nothing he had ever known!

The words I love you demanded release, and yet, he had not said them He knew she needed to hear them, and still he could not say them Perhaps … later, when all this was behind hio to her clean?

You will lose her, or worse … she will turn to the doctor A voice nagged at hi him to be honest with her, but he had to keep her out of all the ugliness that was sure to follow him now

She was far too worthy for the libertine that he had become!

Sweet pain! Sassy had read this in poe How could pain ever be sweet? After his kisses, after being with hi about what she felt for hi about the stretch of problems between them was definitely painful

She had scurried up the stairs and to her roo, a knock sounded She went to the door and opened it a crack to find Molly there

“Hello, dear I was just going to change”

“I know I saw the mud when ye rushed up the stairs,” Molly said with pursed lips “You should have cohtaway to me, Miss Winthrop Here, let me help ye” She took up the muddied cloak “I know jest how to clean this up like new, I do, and I’ll fix up yer gown as well”

“Molly, ould I do without you? But you have so ive you more”

“Aye, ye can, being who ye are, Miss, and how thankful I a her eyes

Sassy hugged her “You don’t have to do this I can wash the mud out”