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William Cassidy nodded, then said iet dressed at once? There's no time to be lost'

'I won't be twoback to her bedroo on the first clothes she found; pale blue denim trousers and a loose pink top which she belted at the waist with a silvery chain She didn't bother to put on make-up, and simply knotted her blonde hair at the nape with a blue ribbon In the ht, skin flushed That was strange, because she should have been sleepy or pale; she had been woken out of deep sleep and given a series of shocks She didn't have tih She ran back down the hall and found Willia at the door

He hustled her out of the flat, but lance over her and o-to-hell look of his ht not be dressed to kill, she ht even look very flustered, but what did he expect? He had asked her to hurry, or she would have taken more trouble with how she looked What business was it of his, anyway? Sian didn't care what he thought of how she looked

He had a car waiting outside; in the yellowish gleam of the street lamps she admired the sleek limousine, a classy dark blue shade on the chassis, the upholstery a power-blue leather As he helped her into the passenger seat, she thought gri in this luxury Her body sank into the deep upholstery and she leaned back, staring up at the dark sky above London If Annette was asleep, her awakening was going to be painful Sian sighed This had been quite a day for both of the—for Annette, at least?

Williaine purred into life When it lide, but at speed; she felt as if they were flying, and watched his hands on the wheel with hypnotised fascination What did it feel like to have this beautifulin your hands? Sian had to adered hands relaxed even though he was driving fast at times on the empty city roads Most of London was asleep; she almost felt that the two of theether in their entranced, mysterious city

Once William Cassidy had found the suburb to which she had taken Annette, Sian had to guide him, from memory, to the street itself When they pulled up outside the small, terraced yellow-brick house, he leaned on the wheel, his dark head lowered as he stared with a frown

'You brought her here? Why here?'

'That's for Annette to tell you' She wondered howaway, about his rival Was he going to get another shock when he found out? There was no reason why she should find that upsetting, but she did, oddly enough So far she hadn't got the impression that William Cassidy was vulnerable or easily hurt, but he was a ot out of the car

She joined hiently, won't you?' she pleaded He looked down at her in surprise, as if he had already forgotten who she was, then smiled suddenly

'Of course I will Don't worry I care about her, you know'

Sian felt an odd little stab right below the ribs, an inexplicable pain which made her frown as she followed hi in the cold night air It was a very clear night, the stars hite fire and very close, you could alers if you did, she thought crazily, trying to bury thejab of pain She had only justto her, so why should she be concerned about his feelings for anyone else?

'Cold?' he asked her then, ringing the front-door bell 'I've got an overcoat in the car, I'll get it for you'

He went back with quick, lithe steps while lights came on in the rooms upstairs, and voices sounded—anxious, puzzled, startled voices Sian thought she picked up the note of Annette's voice, then William Cassidy came back with a smooth black cashmere overcoat which he draped casually around her shoulders She was far shorter than he was, and it hung down alled into it with a sigh of gratitude

'Thank you'

He looked down at her, then suddenly grinned 'If you could see yourself…' His a man faced them, defiant and pale