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“I understand,” Ivana said offering a knowing smirk “You love him Why wouldn’t you want to lie in his arms when Nikolai’s interference has robbed you of the opportunity for so many years Now you’ve taken the cure you need never worry Now, you can live your dreams”
The ht of the time she’d spent alone with Lachlan caused her heart to beat wildly “I cannot prove Nikolai’s bigah to convince the appropriate authorities that my husband is dead”
Ivana placed her hand on Isla’s arm “My husband is a marquess Both an earl and a viscount witnessed Nikolai’s death, too There will be no issue when it couarantee that”
Isla breathed a sigh of relief To know there was still a chance for her to be Lachlan’s as all she needed to hear
With a renewed sense of optiap first” She shuffled past the large boulder, took the lamp from Ivana so she could do the same “I’ll ensure Lachlan comes back later to seal the entrance properly”
Once down inside the square chas
Ivana put her hands on her hips “No doubt at one time there would have been various artefacts in here Items of jewellery, furs, basic objects they believed necessary to succeed in the afterlife”
“The fact that they are no longer here means someone deemed them necessities to succeed in this life, too”
Ivana turned to face her “Those desperate for money often resort to immoral means when all other options have been exhausted”
“What, like extortion and theft?”
“Yes” Ivana’s eyes widened “And murder”
“Murder?” Isla shivered A sudden wave of foreboding rippled through her For a ined the sound of footsteps on the dusty floor behind them She turned, held the lantern aloft and scoured the shadows “Who’s there?” All this talk of theft and ive me I did not mean to cause alarm It’s just so dark down here that I cannot help but feel a little anxious”
“No I heard so closer until the sleeves of their dresses touched “We should not have come down here on our own Perhaps we should leave”
“I’m afraid I can’t let that happen” The deep h the chamber
What first appeared as a black shadow suddenly took on the forhts a little wild and chaotic, Isla presuhost But as he stepped into the chamber, she realised she knew him