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“No, we’ll take the box and cologne with us too” Daniel came to his feet and held his hand out to her “Come, we must leave this place before we’re discovered”

Daphne nodded and slipped her tiny hand into his

After cliently, and they trudged back across the field towards the coaching inn They walked the two miles in relative silence A wistfulthees of Thomas’ last moments flashed into Daniel’s e to breathe water Had it happened quickly? What did one think about when they realised death was inevitable?

They arrived at the coaching inn to find a new coach in the courtyard The small family-run establishment operated with minimal staff and consequently, the innkeeper and his ere too busy with the late arrivals to pay them any heed

“Do you want to keep the box with you in your room?” Daniel said as they stopped outside the door to Daphne’s bedchamber

The lines between her brows grew prominent as she searched his face “Stay with me,” she whispered “Don’t leave ht”

The words tore at his heart He’d give everything he owned to ease her pain “What if so your room?”

“No one knows us here Discretion is a skill we’ve both th he possessed to suppress his desire

“Very well” He glanced left and right “Open the door before someone sees us”

Once inside the private space his body reacted instantly But one did not need to be a skilled enquiry agent to know that she wanted soht

Not really knohat to do or what she expected, he followed her lead They removed their coats and boots, washed their face and hands in the bowl of cold water on the washstand

“I’ll sleep in my clothes,” she said as she climbed onto the bed

And that was his cue to do the sa his shirt loose from his breeches, Daniel settled down beside her

They both lay there staring at the oak beah it felt more like an hour

“So what do we do now?” She turned onto her side and looked at him