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Chapter 1

Kingston-upon-Hull, England

September 1849

“Thank you, Mr York It’s been a pleasure, sir A pleasure”

Aidan York srimly at the florid-faced squire The hard, hot spark in the man’s eyes couldn’t truly be described as pleasure The emotion was closer to abject relief The h seas had brought him to ruin soon after

Aidan inclined his head “The money will be delivered to your representative this afternoon”

“Thank you” The man boith a jerk “Thank you, sir”

Even as Aidan nodded, he turned away, hison to other ventures If he departed Hull before nightfall, he’d be back in London and on the hunt for a buyer before the ship’s repairs were even started A thousand pounds profit within a fortnight, if he calculated correctly—and he always did Not a bad ’s work

Stepping off the walk and onto the cobblestones of the street, he barely noticed the beauty of the scene that spread before hi river port—the clean streets and quaint lanes of the old toere croith goodwives and servants, sailors and merchants, all industriously occupied Several faces turned up to look at the sky just as the sun broke through the clouds Aidan did not look There were arrangements to be made, deals to be brokered The weather concerned hi schedule

Outpacing the croirling around hiht to head toward the docks and the small office he’d let there But his rush was interrupted when he found himself on a narrow lane that was even more crowded than the last Unable to bear the slower pace, he bit back a growl and searched the lane, looking for an opening, a break in the crowd

His eyes caught for aclicked with razor sharpness in his htness in his chest struck hiardless that it had been years since he’d last felt it Before he could think to resist the urge, he began a quick study of the people in front of hih them like cards at a table

There A wohtly with each step she took The plain wool fabric of the dress revealed nothing; her hair and face were coe, very plain hat

Aidan frowned at the way his pulse leapt He was being ridiculous Pitiful But his eyes folloith close intent, taking in the details of this stranger The line of her shoulder, the tilt of her head

Sneering, he cursed himself for the terrible hope that bloo familiar in her walk, it certainly was not Katie

He sed hard and forced himself to look away

He had not done this in years Had, in fact, thought he’d left this stupid impulse well behind him Still, his pulse stuttered and his cheeks betrayed hiaze jumped back to search her out As if in a trance, he slowed his pace and watched the woman stop to unlock a cheerfully blue door She left it open to the cool day and disappeared inside