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She raised her chin “You’d be twenty thousand pounds in debt, enerates You would only have one friend instead of two”

“Is that e are? Friends as well as lovers”

“We are all things to each other — confidante, companion, partner in crime”

“Noe’ve e of the card-sharps, you realise we could earn quite a substantial su hells”

“You won’t have time for cards”

“Why? Have you thought of a better way for me to spend my time?”

She moistened her lips “The activity I had in leaned will be so intense it will soothe your soul”

While his body responded instantly to the seductive lilt in her voice, he suspected she spoke of so other than passionate encounters in the bedchamber

“As a man with a wicked mind, there is only one activity I can think of, yet I suspect youelse entirely”

“Oh, I intend to find neays to pleasure your body, but I was speaking about painting If you’re to have a gallery, you will need more than three pieces of work”

The fear of failure was often stifling With his work kept hidden in the attic, no one could judge or offer the scathing criticisain

“How is it you make an unsurmountable task appear easily achievable?” he said

“Because I’ve seen your work, and I believe in you”

His heart skipped a beat Time stopped for a moment No one had ever said those words to him When he shook himself back to the present, a well of emotion rose from his chest to block his throat

“Priscilla … I …”