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“You’ll have to ask his lordship Mr Blackwood is the one who passed on his instruction”

“And what of the hound I hear howling outside ht?”

Mrs Birch lowered her gaze “It’sMr Blackwood trained hi fresh meat”

Isabella flopped down onto the gilt-framed settee She was so tired Since her led to call any place her ho the last five years had been an awful lie A e of convenience sieentleman known for his rakish behaviour and utter lack of morals

Isabella stared at her housekeeper “Was there a point in all of this where you questioned if what you were doing rong?”

Mrs Birch nodded “Mr Blackwood can be very persuasive He insisted it was for the best We could see it was causing you distress which is the only reason ent to such great lengths last night”

Isabella could not even rouse the energy to pity them

“You may all leave us,” she said in a tone as cold as her heart “Resume your duties until I tell you otherwise I shall confer with Lord Fernall and decide what is to be done here”

The wo sombrely from the room

Tristan ca on instruction,” he said “I’entleman who employs them”

Isabella sighed; she was not so naive as to suppose it would be any different “Perhaps they felt they were acting in everyone’s best interest But it reaffirms my need to find an alternative place to reside I refuse to be beholden to Henry”

Tristan placed his hand over hers as they lay in her lap “Do not be too hasty We shall discuss the matter with Lord Fernall Only then will you kno best to proceed”

She looked up into his piercing blue eyes “We? You intend to accompany me when I call on Henry?”

“If that is what you want”

E Tristan had broken her heart, smashed it into a esture went soan Would it ever be whole again? Would she ever be capable of loving with the same passionate intensity?