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No one careet them

They stopped in front of the iron-studded door Tristan held her arround “Go inside where it is warm and dry Where will I find the stables?”

“Follow the path round to the left” She shivered as she wiped the running rivulets from her face Had the damp air finally penetrated or did the coldness she felt stem from the loss of Tristan’s touch “I’ll ask Mrs Birch to heat some water so you may bathe”

An iewith the drops of rain clinging to her cloak

“Go inside,” he repeated “I’ll join you shortly”

Isabella did as Tristan asked The front door was unlocked She strode through the hall, leaving eas nowhere to be seen Due to her last minute decision to return, she had not had an opportunity to send word to her staff

Following the sound of lively chatter, she ewick, the chambermaid and the footman seated around the card table She stood in the doorater dripping onto the polished wooden floor, and watched with interest

“You’ve pulled that one out frorus in a pack, and we’ve played them all”

“Are you accusing ewick said in his usual lofty tone as he raised his chin “Is that any way to speak to a superior?”

“We’ve played three,” Molly said

“Hoould you know?” the footman countered “You’ve nodded off twice There’s only one way to know for sure”

“You’ve more than likely miscounted” Mrs Birch slapped his hand away from the pile of cards in the centre of the table “Have you been at ain?”

Isabella stepped into the roolass”

Four heads turned to the door Their shocked expressions were quickly replaced with a look of horror For a few seconds no one moved; no one spoke

“Lady Fernall,” Mrs Birch finally gasped The chairs scraped along the floor as the servants shot to their feet “We were not expecting you home”