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Their mouths fell open Confusiona host of silent questions

“Whatever deal you struck with Mr Gilligan is void,” Miles added

Jenny’s anxious expression faded, replaced by a sly grin “Did Dugan put ya up to this?”

“If Dugan is one of thedown the drive for fear I’ll put a lead ball in his back”

Panic surfaced in the woain Both doxies sat frozen on the bed

“But Gilligan said we’d ht”

“Gilligan no longer holds any authority here” Miles pulled his watch from his pocket and checked the tiet the hell out ofthe atmosphere in two

The wos and petticoats One jiggled her breasts back into the bodice of her dress They ransacked the drawers by the bed, stuffing coins into the secret pockets sewn into their skirts One filled a cloth purse and pushed it down the valley of her ample bosom

Drake folded his ar spectacle

“You realise I could have sent for the istrate,” Miles said, keen to let theht when coman’s noose

Neither woman bothered to thank him for his compassion nor for the use of his bed With a mound of clothes in their arms, they hurried out of the room and down the stairs

“Do you want ate?” Drake asked

“I think that’s wise lest we find the in the cellar I’ll leave you to keep watch here while I deal with Gilligan” Miles relished the thought of wrapping his hands around the steward’s disloyal neck and squeezing until his face turned blue “I’ to the assembly in Cuckfield”

Drake groaned “But Dariell won’t arrive with the trunks until tomorrow” He brushed road dust off the shoulder of Miles’ coat “What will the fine folk of Cuckfield think if you stroll in dressed like that?”

“They already think I’ood people of Cuckfield want to see a et”