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Page 34

| gland. His father had died. He was to return to inherit the family estates and become Sir Woodrow Rutherford, baronet." |

| Ashton interrupted again. "He promised to return for you," he said. "Soon to be a titled man, he would have all the privileges that he had not had before." |

| "Yes, and he was kind enough to leave me enough money to last the eighteen months that we had planned to be separated," Sasha said, interrupting Ashton. She held out her ring finger, the cameo small and white beneath the dull lamplight of the room. "He gave me this cameo ring the day he left. It was to seal his promise to me." |

| "And you couldn't part with the ring when your luck ran out," Ashton grumbled. |

| "You came to my rescue just in time," Sasha said, laughing softly. "I would've hocked the ring the very next day. But you offered me a job. Then you became myvery best friend in the world. I shall always remember that, Ashton. Always." |

| Her description of their relationship as only 'best friends' rankled Ashton. He wanted much more than that! |

| But he had been patient with her feelings up to now. Surely he could be patient a while longer. Come hell or high water, they would soon be out of this damn pub, living a much different sort of life out on a sheep station. Their sheep station. . . . |

| Sasha took her hand from Ashton's and rose from the chair. She went to peer from the window, feeling suddenly alone and empty. "Oh, Ashton, I feel so torn," she said, her voice breaking. "Should I be bitter because Woodrow has not returned as |

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