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“What’s wrong?” Isobel asked, watching as Do outside briefly before closing the shutters

Do to the bed

Isobel pulled away slightly averting her face froaze steadily

“I will tell you in theif he didn’t offer her any reassurances, she would badger hih to know that distraction was the key “We will discuss it in theelse can wait” With that he rolled her backwards, and gave her no further opportunity to question him further

Sunlight was streah the open shutters when Do Instinctively, he ht to hily as his questing hands found war flesh With a frown, his eyes popped open His gaze locked with her steady periwinkle stare He waited only to frown again when she didn’t ard

With a sigh he blinked away the last vestiges of sleep He knew she aiting

“I don’t want to start our e on a lie” Doainst the pillows When she re, he continued “Rupert knows you are here” He watched as her onlyof her eyes

Isobel felt her sto dread as Dominic spoke She kneas inevitable that at some point Rupert would re-appear He wasn’t one to take defeat lightly and would want retribution, such was his nasty nature However Isobel hadn’t expected it to be so soon, especially given the inclement weather

“Where is he?” Her voice was almost too calm

“He is in a house near here, about two miles out of Town He is there with DeLisle,” Do no reason why she shouldn’t know, especially now Still, he hated how pale her cheeks had gone and wrapped her securely in his arms

“I proet anywhere near you Not only would they have to get through h Peter, my brothers and the house staff They are not so bold, foolhardy or clever to consider it”

“But I cannot reo outside, if only to walk the gardens” Isobel battled to control the rising fear

“You shall do so without fear But one cannot ignore the hard fact that things are likely to get worse before they get better At some point, there will be a confrontation with Rupert or DeLisle, if not with both I don’t want you ignorant of that fact You shouldn’t fear being alone orfreely around the house should you want to However, you cannot take any risks” Doh her as she curled against him “You are my wife It is , he thought to hi it didn’t coht to himself

He knew that if he wanted to gain Isobel’s trust, he had to take her into his confidence To lead by exa about her evasion of Rupert and the help she received

“We know that Rupert is“He has no property to speak of, and more billets and ious around London than anyone I have ever heard of His creditors are now getting anxious to have their money back I think that is part of the reason he has taken to the countryside, and removed himself from the City and the threat”