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Benedict took a pugilist’s stance as the fake coach crop in one hand and a blade in the other

“Come on, yer cowardly bastard” The man snarled and swiped the air with the blade “Let’s see what they taught yer in dancin’ school”

Benedict snorted as he bounced lightly on his feet and shifted his weight gracefully “I may be a bastard, but I’m no coward”

Cassandra stood helpless

Benedict had told her to run to Mrs Crandall, but she didn’t know the strange knock that brought the

The brute on the paverab Benedict’s ankle, and so Cassandra rushed forward and staown, she stao and cried, “The bitch has damned near broken my arm”

The rue tumbled out onto the street All three rappled and wrestled each other to the ground Foston got to his feet and then delivered a blow that sent one e roar saw both his opponents scramble up and break into a run as the coachht

Cassandra’s attention shot to Benedict as his attacker shuffled closer, jabbing the air with his knife Her husband continued to watch his prey with the keenness of a hawk With skill and iility, he avoided the vicious thrusts And then, quicker than a lightning strike, he grabbed the rip on the weapon The blade went skie’s chassis

That didn’t stop the devil’s violent pursuit He continued his assault by whipping Benedict across the back with the crop

“Benedict!” she cried when her husband took a punch to the face that almost knocked him clean off his feet

Soht back Despite society’s efforts to subdue him, Benedict never surrendered No other th of heart and mind

Pride and adht a feverish excite she’d battled to suppress surfaced Benedict Cavanagh was a nificent specimen of a man Indeed, when he wrenched the crop from the devil’s hands and cast the weapon aside, when he hit his opponent so hard the blackguard’s nose cracked, she kneould be victorious

She was so enthralled by her husband that she alue’s accomplice The snake clutched his injured arrab the discarded crop But Cassandra picked it up and hit out at the e at her

She fell back, landed so hard she jarred her neck as she tried to stop her head hitting the pavement

“If it’s money you want, I have none,” she cried as the snake tried to wrestle the crop frorasp She kicked out, but her skirts wrapped around her legs “Get off me!”