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“But I a London,” she said with renewed resolve

“Leaving?” How ironic that the one thing he’d alanted for her was now the last thing he wanted to hear “Where will you go?”

“To a place where the air is clean Where the life is not squeezed from my soul day by day”

Lord help hih the devil had punched a hole in his chest and ripped out his heart “And what about me?”

“I am a hindrance to your work, Daniel It was one into a book shop and not stayed with Bostock as I was told” She touched hi her hand away “If I stay here, you’ll feel bound to protect me How can you beabout me?”

Daniel dragged his hand down his face The painful knots in his stoo”

“And I can’t stay” She glanced left and right along the deserted path, leant forward and kissed him softly on the lips

Her touch soothed the pain, and he wrapped his arm around her and deepened the kiss

When she broke contact on a ragged breath, tears were strea down her face “I love you,” she whispered “But you o” She stepped away from him

“Wait” The as but a whisper

He stood like a fool and watched her hurry along the path The back of his throat was tight, his tongue too thick and heavy to call out Rather than a hundred thoughts filling his head, hisbut a hollow shell The lady had captured his heart and soul and spirited them away

Time passed in a blur

He had no recollection of how long he’d stood there staring at the trees, no recollection of how he’d walked froe

Having failed to arrive for his appoint the roo the books on the shelves in alphabetical order

It was seven o’clock when Bostock arrived