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“Name them?” he echoed “I was three sheets to the wind Three parts foxed Ask Craven Ask his foot the street”

“Surely your mother wasn’t sotted Can she not name those y

ou passed pleasantries with on the way out?”

“Myelse but snapped his mouth shut

“She did accompany you home?”

Distrust flared Lord Murray always played the doting son Indeed, he never drank to excess in the matron’s company

“My rie to ferry me home”

Cassandra stopped breathing for a moment She had known of Lord Purcell’s early exit but not that of Lady Murray Were the two colluding to bring about her downfall?

“Did you see your mother upon your return home?” Suspicion slithered and writhed in her chest “Can anyone confir your prospects of er dowry?”

Lord Murray jerked his head back, aghast at her blatant accusation “I know you’re upset about the whole affair, but I’ll not stand here and listen to you slander my mother”

“Then leave” Cassandra flicked her fingers in a gesture of contempt “Scuttle back to your mother and pander to her whims”

“What the devil’s got into you?”

“I a to your pathetic drivel” Honesty proved re “You defend your ”

“Howto do hat happened to you that night Good God, I’ll find witnesses to prove y for the despicable way you’ve behaved”

Cassandra slapped a hand to her chest “The way I have behaved?” An incredulous chuckle escaped “Do you know, I should applaud the person who sought to leave rass half-naked Due to their wicked intervention, I a idiot who cowers behind the sofa when his mother enters the room”