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She could hear the rustle of his clothing as he dressed and moved across the roo for breakfast now?” She didn’t wait for his answer and moved to the bell pull beside the fireplace

They waited for breakfast in silence, each lost in their own thoughts

“I hope that today ill be at the inn I have asked Peter to meet us at” His eyes met and held hers sole ride ahead of us”

Eliza winced and shifted unco the bruised flesh of her botto wood of the seat Reluctantly she nodded her agree that this would be the last meal she would share alone with Edward She felt a sense of loss so acute that tears stung her eyes and she had to blink several ti

Edward studied her with a froatching the array of emotions sweep over her face Reluctance followed by discomfort, then fear, followed by sadness He considered the de her too hard

“We’ll take soh for luncheon and tea, but if we don’t ht ill find so He’ll wait” Edward added, his voice laced with an air of certainty Eliza didn’t think to question

Still, she didn’t complain and instead accepted his explanatio

n with a curt nod Inexplicably he had the urge to sweep her into his arht didn’t trust hier on her

His own self control could only be stretched so far, and he was only hu awareness that shimmered between them, he knew they wouldn’t leave the rooe expanse of bed beside the his head at thearound with her completely naked, he stood and turned his back so she didn’t see the hard evidence of his driving need for her

“If you’re ready, let’s go” He didn’t wait to see if she was behind hi it open expectantly

The hour was still early as they entered the hallway of the s inn Most of the occupants were still abed; the main tap roo the hearth in preparation for the breakfast rush

Edward barely stepped outside when the sudden shifting of a shadow to the side of him drew his attention He barely had tilint of a sword tip swept inches from his nose

“Get back!” He snapped to Eliza, drawing his scabbard Iht was on and his attention as held by the parry and thrust of his opponent It had been a while since he had entered into any prolonged sword fighting and at first cursed his own lack of dexterity with the smaller scabbard as he clashed with the man before him

He was vaguely aware of a small scuffle behind him and felt a jolt of alar within hilance over his shoulder and check she was alright, but he couldn’t take his attention of the e Eliza needed him alive, not skewered on the tip of his opponent’s sword

Desperation clawed at hie of his blade, he watched thefrom the wound in his chest