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A loud burst of raucous laughter froh to snap her out the sensual web he had so easily woven around her With a curt nod she returned to the bar, snapping out his order to Bernard She ignored his look of surprise and stomped off to deliver more ale, her mind firmly locked on thethere

She reluctantly delivered the oblet severalahen her wrist was captured in a firht Only this ti, a shiver of ers encased the delicate bones and skin with far too h his hold didn’t hurt as Bernard’s had, the persistent pressure assured her that he wouldn’t let go until he wanted to She could feel his strength and kneas futile to struggle

She glared at hiht headed “What?”

She jumped when Bernard appeared beside her and took the opportunity to breathe

“Get back to work girl” He ordered, glowering at the new customer

“I want a feords with your wenchat Bernard e in thewith Eliza, he had lost so to hi he swiftly adopted as he snapped at Bernard erous the burly man immediately bowed humbly, and lumbered off without a murmur

“Have I just got you into trouble?” The rueful question drew her attention back to theher wrist and she watched as he pushed out a stool andto let her go until he had what he canore the shih her and tentatively took a seat

“It doesn’t lance at a rapidly retreating Bernard “I don’t like him anyway What do you want?” She had to admit she was curious

Unless she was entry He was clean; the cut of his clothing was expensive His voice was rich and cultured and carried an air of authority she had only heard from aristocrats Despite the air ofcloak, he didn’t belong in such a humble establishment

“I need to ask you a couple of questions” Edward tried to keep his voice soft and unthreatening The last thing he wanted was to frighten the young wo o until he had the answers he came for

When he had first entered the dingy tavern and studied the occupants, he had thought she was a young girl He had spentthe inn’s raucous patrons try to grope her The angry rebuttals she gave thee She had dealt with the situation with a stalwart determination that had been impressive As time had passed, he realised she was considerably older than first impressions

As she caood look at her She wasn’t a girl at all; indeed she was a young woman Somewhere in her early twenties, her face held wisdom far beyond her years Her face held th and detere There was also an innate wariness that warned hie should, and it had made her cynical

He wondered briefly if she took her turn upstairs, servicing the ry and resentful for soh she wasn’t his usual type, there was so about her that called to him and he didn’t feel entirely coe of sensual awareness as she perched on the rickety stool before him

Her lovely eyes were fra on a wide forehead Her hair was light brown, and curly Her nose was straight, her chin tapered and her lips lavishly curved and rosy He studied the errant lock of hair that had refused to re, pale neck She had spent h ard, was clean and brushed He wondered if it really was as thick as it looked, and eyed the gatheredloosely down her back

Although slender, she wasn’t thin but well rounded Her breasts were full and high, her thin waist flared into the hips that were neatly rounded He wondered if her thighs were as lush as the rest of her Her orn dress was clean and serviceable, and covered her luscious fraly He wanted to take it off her and see for himself