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Ti chairs became uncomfortable, theyroom Decorated in hues of yellow and cream, the room was clearly a lady’s room

Once seated Isobel su Eliza with barely the tiain After her initial hesitation, Eliza could detect no censure or disgust at any of her answers so decided not to spare them Clearly they were curious and didn’t like the fact that their expectant status meant they couldn’t be directly involved Eliza felt a little sorry for the with Peter’s deterh in deference to their condition, spared them details of the bloodshed and bodies they had left behind

By the time the questions ran dry, the butler appeared in the doorway to announce luncheon Eliza looked at the man in surprise She had already eaten more at breakfast than she had eaten in several days and was still full With a sigh she followed the ladies fro roo if she would be as fat as a barrel by the end of the week She crossed the huge expanse of lanced curiously out of the front s

“Wait” Her heart thumped heavily in her chest as she et a better look at the approaching riders

In her heart she kneho it was

Exhilaration warred with abject fear as she counted heads Down the long length of the driveway it was i, but Dominic, Sebastian, Edward and Peter had ridden out Unless so behind quite badly, there were only three riders returning

She frowned as she studied the horse Edas leading Had Peter decided to stay in Derby? She studied the riders closely and identified Edward riding slightly ahead of the group His broad shoulders and the slight tilt of his head were so achingly familiar to her that she knew she would have been able to identify hi close behind

“Are they back?” Airth to stand beside Eliza

“It looks like Sebastian isn’t with them” Isobel murmured from her position on the other side of Eliza

“Do they have Je her neck to see better, as the ridersa cart closely behind them

“What’s that?” Amelia scowled at the cart

Eliza felt sick as she moved slowly out of the rooe before the clinking of the bridles and the soft snicker of horses drew loud enough to announce the iuely aware of Izzy and A her hand tightly as they waited

She felt as though she was viewing things down a tunnel as she watched the door sloing inwards, a sole

Immediately she knew

Without a word from him, she knehat he was about to say His face was stark as he stared reaze was locked on her as he walked steadily forwards, closely followed by Dominic and Peter