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She nodded emphatically.Yes.

Then perhaps it's best we remain put. The marquis, taking Rhapsody's hand, pressed a kiss to her knuckles, and the gesture had Erou shaking his head even as he joined the others in getting his butt out of his seat.

A still-puzzled William was the last one out of the room, and the doors had barely shut closed when he heard the marchioness whimper and the marquis laugh. A scent permeated the air, and William finally understood whatthat lookwas all about.

The gray-eyed earl shook his head in amusement. It was a good thing that his being a heartkeeper to Rhapsody was only a farce that he had agreed to. With it his debt to Sir Isaac had been paid, and he had even become good friends with the couple. It would have been fucking hell if it were otherwise, for there was clearly no way anyone could break those two apart.

William caught up with Lord Erou outside the keep. The younger man wore a harsh expression on his face, and as the other earl finished speaking with his men, William stepped forward, asking, "Anything wrong?" Recent circumstances had made him rather restless lately, and as far as he was concerned, trouble of any kind was best nipped in the bud and never allowed to worsen.

"It's actually good news for once," Erou said with a frown, "but only if I can have it confirmed."

William raised a brow. "It'sthatgood?"

"We've received a message from one of our spies outside," Erou said. "It says Lord Alexandru has returned from the dead."

The End