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Ignoring the assertion, he rose and chose a generous selection fros “A pot of fresh coffee for the lady,” he called as he set the plate down in front of her “And please make sure it’s dark and hot”

The heavenly aros reminded Anna that she hadn’t eaten since supper, and even then, she had been too on edge to do more than pick at her meal

“I shudder to think what you consu peckish,” he murmured

“Wretch,” she said around a forkful of creamed mushrooripping her insides “It seeht”

“That’s better The color is returning to your face”

Anna took a grateful gulp of the stea coffee “Thank you This is divine But we need—”

Devlin signaled her to silence “When you are finished,” he commanded

Behtfully on a piece of sultana-studdedher with a rather peculiar expression—half exasperation and half so she couldn’t quite define “Tender” was the first word that came to mind, which was of course ridiculous The Devil Davenport didn’t have a tender bone or sinew in his body

Cut him and he would bleed sarcasm

Wouldn’t he? She slanted another look at hi a flutter in her stoht have softer sentiments hidden beneath his caustic quips? That would, of course, be asking for trouble…

No, it would be asking for heartbreak

Anna looked down at the cru up her heart on a platter

Brushing aside such conflicted , she popped the last morsel into her mouth “There, I’m done Now let us find somewhere quiet”

“The gardens,” he suggested

And risk encountering the murderous McClellan? “No, no, the library At this hour it will be deserted”