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“Do you have a lover?”

Madame Fontaine looked down her nose “Do you?”

For solanced at Mrs Chaaze fell to his lips, but she shook her head and said, “Mr Thorpe is atteht be a ests the culprit harbours anger towards the recipient Such crie A sudden, passionate reaction to so said or witnessed”

“Then the answer is no, Daphne I do not have a lover, and Mr Brown is old enough to be randfather”

Hearing Mrs Chah Daniel’s veins It had burst fro their acquaintance, both times out of fear and frustration for her safety

“And I don’t think it was a sudden reaction either,” the modiste added

Daniel sat forward Now they were getting somewhere “What makes you say that?”

“Because the blighter had taken the ti alass Now you can’t tell s in his pocket”

“An engraving?” Daniel mused “Tell me you still have it”

“Of course I’m not a dimwit” Madame Fontaine rose from the chair and strode over to the sideboard Distracted by a pair of stained slippers on top, shethe paper “Did you thinkfor the fire?” she said thrusting it at him

Daniel took the engraving and studied the picture Upon first inspection, it appeared to be an i tea at a s his uted closer and peered over his shoulder

“Besides the adentleainst his as she pointed to the woman The ht touch

Bloody hell!

The years apart had done nothing to ease his craving

“With her feet wide apart and hands braced on her hips, the lady’s stance is overtly masculine,” Mrs Chambers added