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“If Murray needs money, it makes sense to look for an excuse to sever ties with you and search elsewhere” Benedict captured her hand and led her along the street “Come, we’ll be chilled to the bone if ait for Foston”
“Then, the Murrays have a motive to ruin my reputation My father would have insisted on some form of recompense had Lord Murray expressed a wish to end our betrothal” She panted for breath as she hurried to keep his fast pace “And Ti my drink at the ball”
How could a man profess love and yet act so cruelly?
“If Murray was seen helping you into a carriage, no one would suspect anything untoward” A curse burst fro down the barrel of a pistol if he’s guilty”
A shiver of trepidation ran from her neck to her navel While she wanted to punish the person responsible, part of her wanted to forget about the sha her relationship with Benedict
“I suspect Mrs Crandall is in love with you,” she said, eager to banish all thoughts of Ti taken for a fool
In heavens na herself Was she not a dreadful hypocrite? She had betrayed the only person who should have mattered And for what? To please her father? To make amends for the fact herBenedict would not atone for what she had done
“Power is the only thing Mrs Crandall craves” Benedict motioned to Foston for the u men The fact I refuse her advances only makes her more determined to succeed”
Mrs Crandall wasn’t the only wory eyes It had taken effort not to lay claim to him Jealousy still writhed in her chest
“Benedict, I know I’m not in a position to make dee” Knots formed in her stomach “Mrs Crandall raised a valid point” She inhaled deeply “I know it is too soon to consider the prospect of children, but—” She cast hiaze focused on his coachman “If you’d rather not speak—”
“Hush a e later For now, I need you to play the doting wife and kiss me” He drew her to an abrupt halt
a few feet fro her around to face him “Kiss me on the cheek Make this look like another amorous interlude”
She was about to ask why but noted the flash of apprehension in his eyes Trusting Benedict had never been a problem, and so she ran her hands over his chest and kissed him as he’d asked
He returned her display of affection by nuzzling her neck and whispering, “Don’t be alar atop the box”
Don’t be alarmed!