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But Daniel was a cynical man and sensed Lily was not cos for Thomas

Daniel purchased a reel of twine from the chandler but waited until they were out in the alley before putting it in his pocket Daphne placed her hand in the crook of his ar in the brazier a little further along the narrow street

“Lily passed me a note as I left” Daphne held up her clenched fist “I should wait until we’re ho it but, as Betsy will tell you, I’m not one for patience”

The secret gesture had not gone unnoticed “The back alleys are not the place to stop and have a conversation” Daniel glanced

back over his shoulder “And you’re right It must wait until we’re home”

Just saying the word home caused his heart to pound In an uncharacteristicback after a night at the theatre Once there, they would sit by the fire and talk until the early hours, surrender to their wants and desires in bed

He shook his head to focus, but the loss of his dream left a cavernous hole in his chest

“Oh, it won’t hurt to take a peek” Daphne unfolded the paper before he had a chance to caution her again “The note’s so small it can’t contain that much information”

Was she always so damn stubborn?

She stared at the scraords, six of them from what he could see over her shoulder

Iot the better of him too “What does it say?”

“Nothing It’s just a list of names”

“How many?”

“Three Three gentlemen”

No doubt they were the ht be the traitor