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She was pretty enough He could understand why Peter was so absorbed by her, but for the life of him he couldn’t understand why she would want to remain hidden What kind of trouble was she in? He eyed her feminine curves with masculine appreciation If she was Jemima, then as far as Edas concerned she was as far out of his reach as humanly possible He wouldn’t touch someone who had captured his brother-in-law’s heart

He studied her as she took a quick break behind the bar She was turned towards hi him a full view of her face He drank in her features, the tiredness was evident but there was also defiance in the upward tilt of her chin that was impressive Despite her exhaustion and the difficult circumstances in which she worked, there was still a cal that a brief dalliance between thee of almost pride for her fortitude Still, he couldn’t help but wonder what price she paid for her hardened resolve Given the world-weary cynicism he had seen in her face earlier, he considered it a shame that such beauty was tarnished by her brutal lifestyle and wondered if re for her

Regardless of his masculine interest in her and his sympathies for her current situation, he knew there could be nothing between the If she was indeed Jemima, then she was Peter’s intended bride and far out of his reach If she was Eliza, then she wasn’t the kind of wo she needed was to be seduced by her future brother-in-law

He cringed inwardly as the prospect of e loomed darkly before him With a shudder he quickly closed the notion off and turned his attention back to his drink It was best for everyone if he just discovered her secrets and then left It was down to Peter then to find out who she really was

Later that evening, having drunk as much of the watered brandy as he could stand, he made his way out of the tavern to use the privy at the rear of the property Nobody noticed him melt into the shadows and minutes later enter the back corridor of the tavern, and it was just the way he liked it

Not only was the tavern run-down and barely habitable, it was located in one of the o anywhere without so relieved of your valuables being increased tenfold He had learned long ago that being able to move around undetected had its benefits and in a location such as this, could undoubtedly safe not only his purse strings, but his life

The long, dark corridor ran the length of the inn, with several doors opening to one side As he entered, the raucous sounds of revelry fro loudly in the air, but it was the conversation being held in one of the side rooms that commanded his immediate attention

He paused, and melted into the shadows to listen

“I won’t do it, I told you” Her voice was loud and defiant as it rang hollowly down the empty corridor

“And I told you missy that I expect you to take your place upstairs”

Unless Edasto was Bernard, the innkeeper Edward leaned his broad shoulders against the rough stone wall and waited

“You are not turning me into one of your whores”

Even froe of fear that laced her voice, andbrute of a man ould try to force her to such depravity

“You will do as you are dairl You are under my roof, and are bloody useless as a wench No custoot custoive ‘em what they want Do you hear me? You will - or you will leave” Bernard’s voice was unrelenting as he lay down his orders, clearly expecting to bully her into submission

“Then pay me what you oweto be pushed “I have been working here for months and you haven’t paid me a penny”