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“Lord have ht but did not really knohat to do The fellow looked terrified He pressed his hands together in prayer and delivered a“She’ll punish me for weeks”

“The ,” Verity whispered “Raise the sash and slip outside”

Woods needed no further inducement He raced to theand parted the curtains, then waited for histhe sash and cli out onto the street

“You next, Miss Vale” Mr Trent guided her towards the

“Why don’t we open the door, say we sought a little privacy? It’s better than sneaking about like a thief in the night”

“I shall not ask again,” Mrs Crandall shouted “Open this door Woods! Woods! Where the devil has the one? Woods? Are you in there?”

“I’d rather not have Woods incur Mrs Crandall’s wrath,” Verity added “The poorfrom frayed nerves”

Mr Trent arched a brow “If I open that door, she will expect to find us in a clinch”

Excitement fluttered in her chest “You only need to hold me, Mr Trent”

“And what is enerate?”

“Bored bystander Pour a glass of brandy and lounge in the chair” Mr Trent closed the sash, and then shouted, “Just a aze carried the sa in the graveyard “How do you want to play this, Miss Vale?”

“One of us has to open the door, so there’s no hope of Mrs Crandall finding us together” Disappoint eh will oblige”

Mr Trent’s bewitching eyes held her rooted to the spot “Get the door, Cavanagh”

“Who ah marched over to the door while Mr Trent slipped his arm around Verity’s waist and pulled her to his chest He raised a hand to her cheek, stroked back and forth in a gentle caress “This should suffice, though a ht be tempted to do more than hold you close”

“But your conscience prevents you”