Rose couldn’t carry on this way forever; she was a clever girl. XXX “Oh, sir I’ve been so naughty! “Yes please,” she replied. The challenge she faced was assuaging his fears. Rose appeared in the doorway precisely as the clock in the hall chimed. “Good afternoon Rose,” he said sadly. We’ll meet in the drawing room across the hallway. Now you’ve had countless years to tell yourself tales about how you’ve changed, how you’re good now even though you’re still kidnapping women you fancy. She was making a bid to change his mind, he realised, but it would not work. The flowers did look attractive where she had put them, and in any case, he needed to stay focused for their conversation. Were he to yield to temptation, it would only prove that he was not to be trusted.
