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started
    in surprise when he suddenly realized where he had heard that low, faintly lilting voice before.
    “You were there,” he said. “When I was attacked.”
    “Ah, aye, I was.” Chloe decided it would be best not to tel the man just how she had known he needed her help. People often found her visions a
    little difficult to understand, or tolerate. “Me and Leo’s men Todd and Wynn.”
    With his left hand Julian touched the bandages at his waist and shoulder. “How bad?”
    “You wil live. The wounds were deep enough to need stitching but are not mortal. They also cleaned up wel , the bleeding was stopped fair quickly,
    and you continue to reveal no sign of a fever or an infection. You have also slept most peaceful y for nearly two ful days. Al good.”
    He nodded faintly. “I should go home. I can have my man care for me and relieve you of this burden.”
    “That might not be wise,” said Leopold. “This is the fourth time someone has tried to murder you, m’lord. The ones who want you dead nearly
    succeeded this time. Indeed, they came closer than ever before. I think you might wish to consider letting them think that they have succeeded. The rumors of your sad fate have already begun to slip through the ranks of the ton.”
    Before Julian could ask just how Lord Sir Leopold knew this was the fourth attack on him, he was surprised by the arrival of Edgar Dramfield. He
    watched his old friend greet Lord Leopold with obvious warmth and wondered when the two men had become such good friends. It surprised Julian even
    more when Edgar greeted Miss Wherlocke as if he had known her for quite a while as wel . Final y Edgar stepped up to the side of the bed and studied
    him.
    “Either the ones trying to kil you are completely inept or you are one very lucky man, Julian,” said Edgar.
    “’Tis a bit of both, I think,” replied Julian. “Have you come to take me home?” He frowned when Edgar looked at Leopold before answering and
    that man slowly shook his head.
    “Nay,” replied Edgar.
    “What is going on here?”
    Edgar sat in the chair Leopold brought to the edge of the bed. “We have decided that it is time this deadly game was ended, Julian. You have
    been attacked four times. Four times someone has tried to kil you. Your luck simply cannot hold. Do you real y wish to continue to give them the chance to succeed? To win?”
    Julian closed his eyes and softly cursed. He was in pain, although he wondered what had been in that drink he had been given, for his pain was
    definitely less sharp than it had been when he had first woken up. Nevertheless, he was not in the mood to discuss this matter. And yet, Edgar was right.
    He had been lucky so far but this time, if not for the Wherlockes, he would be lying dead in a foul al ey outside a brothel. And what the Wherlockes had to do with his troubles, he did not know. He looked at Edgar again.
    “No, I do not want them to win, whoever they are,” he said.
    “I think you know exactly who is behind it al , Julian,” Edgar said quietly, his eyes soft with sympathy.
    Not ready to say the name, Julian turned his attention to the Wherlockes and frowned. “Just what do you have to do with al of this?”
    Chloe felt a pang of sympathy for the man. She knew the pain in his jade green eyes was not al due to his injuries. Even if he had lost al love for
    his wife, the betrayal stil had to cut deep, and she was soon to add to his wounds. As her cousin retook his seat at the foot of the bed, she clasped her
    hands in her lap and tried to think of just what to say and how best to say it.
    “I believe we can leave the explanations as to how we stumbled into this until later,” Leopold said.
    “That might be best,” Chloe agreed and then smiled faintly at Julian. “We have been involved in your difficulties for quite some time, m’lord.”
    Edgar nodded. “Leopold was the one who brought you to my house the last time you were attacked.”
    “But did not stay until