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“I know that Are you tellingthe word he struggled to say

“Yes Rarely is the appropriate term”

He searched her face, his gaze falling to her neck, slightly lower “Was Lord Fernall blind or simply stupid?”

The indirect coh her It felt as though so lih she tried to suppress it, the corners of her mouth curled into a smile

“We were unsuited I suppose he hoped that taking a younger bride would solve the little probleared belief “Well, I speak of the proble to perform under normal circumstances”

Tristan’s quizzical stare turned“Please tell me he did not hurt you”

Various ied her to pleasure herself whilst he watched froer as the insults burst cruelly fro fly, she could not quite bat the visions away Had her heart been whole, had her confidence not been left in tatters, Samuel would have hurt her terribly

“I was i remarks I was immune to the hu her husband kept a house purely for his sordid little parties”

Tristan glanced around the roo his brow convinced her that he was perhaps ht

“Am I correct to assume you speak of this house?”

She sed another spoonful of broth and nodded “I suspect he e howme to live here, he is still able to punish rave”

A tense silence filled the room

After what felt like an eternity, Tristan stood abruptly “Co out of the“Let

us take a walk as we are both in need of some air”

“That is an excellent idea There is so” She forced a sht relief after the pressure of such heavy scrutiny “I will give you a tour of the gardens It will do us good to stretch our legs And noe have war a chill”