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“Will you be all right here alone?”

Vane cast hilance “Alone is the safest place to be”

After the horrific events of the day and the years spent worrying about his troubles, Christian had no desire to sit andin Vane’s ht”

Vane raised his glass in a toast “For what it’s worth, I’ has worked out well for you”

Christian inclined his head and slipped quietly out into the hall It took every effort not to charge up the stairs But as the hurry? He had the rest of his life to love Rose

After checking the only available roo them empty, a sense of panic took hold He checked his bedcha to find Rose sprawled naked in his bed, but no And so he opened the door to the children’s room and peered inside

The sight stole his breath

Drawn by the beauty of the scene, he stepped into the room Rose was curled up on Alice’s bed, her arm draped over both children as they lay huddled beside her In sleep, they looked content Their soft, peaceful breathing warest time

The light patter of footsteps behind forced hilance over his shoulder

Mrs Hibbet entered the rooht to behold, ht The Lord sent us an angel”

Christian struggled to contain the sudden surge of eht, Mrs Hibbet”

“Not always Dr Taylor had ood and proper And to think I drank his potions”

Guilt flared for his failure to spot the signs, but he pushed it aside The past mattered not “Let’s not think about the doctor anyh of our time”

Mrs Hibbet nodded “Well, I best move Jacob into his bed else he’ll have a crick in his neck co”

“I’ll wake Rose” Christian moved to the side of the bed “Rose” He placed a hand on her arently “Rose”