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Isabel glanced down at her soown It was not what she would have selected had she re back on it now, Mary had questioned the garment, but Isabel had been so anxious to leave the rooain that she had waved off the soft query

"I will not discuss e with you, Rhys"

"Thank God for that," he said with a shudder "Deuced annoying o her eyes, she requested her pelisse fros for Grayson"

"Quite sensible"

"We are just friends"

"Obviously"

As she secured her hat with a hat pin, she shot hiain, in return for your escort? Whatever it is, it is worth hed, and Isabel silently acknowledged his appeal There was sorown out of the fascination for such hopeless sport long ago

"You are introducing me to the lovely Lady Eddly"

"Ah, yes Under norree to such a blatantly obvious pairing, but in this case I think you two are perfect for one another"

"I definitely agree"

"I a a dinner party…eventually You and Lady Eddly are both invited as of thisRhys there would help to calm her nerves And she would need all the assistance in that regard as she coulda dinner with Gray and a bevy of his for at her predicament, Isabel shook her head "Horribly uncouth of you to use your sister in thisher pelisse fro it out for her "Dreadful of you to dragto a breakfast, and at the Marley residence no less Lady Marley always so either, so cease your whining"

"You wound me, Bella Men do not whine" With his hand on her shoulder, he spun her to face hi if you doubt your enjoyently "I wish you would disregard what others thought about you I personally find you the least annoying wohtforward, pleasant to look upon, and capable of witty discourse"

"I suppose your opinion is the only one that ossip," she gru it to my attention as often as possible Those horrid notes she sends infuriate me I wish she would just spit her venom out, rather than attempt to hide it beneath a thin layer of civility" Isabel stared into her brother’s resigned features "I have no notion how Grayson grew up sane with that harridan as a mother"

"You do realize that women who look as you do often have trouble with other females? Catty creatures that you are You cannot bear it when one woman attracts excessive masculine attention Not that you have ever experienced that particular kind of jealousy," he finished dryly "You are always the woard"

She had experienced other kinds of jealousy though, such as the kind a wife experiences when the bed her husband ruts in is not her own

"Which is why I associate with h that has its pitfalls, too" Isabel are that other wo she could do about that "Let’s be off then"

Both of Rhys’ brows rose into his hairline "I must pay my respects to Grayson I cannot siave ton’s The er than I, take pity onat the i of it reht before and the way he had taken her

"Don’t have feelings for Grayson, indeed" Rhys’ hazel gaze was blatantly skeptical

"Wait until you marry, Rhys The need to escape occasionally will becoestured impatiently toward the door

"I’ve no doubt about that" He offered his ar butler

"You are not getting any younger, you know"

"I a years Therefore, I have made a list of suitable spousal prospects"

"Yes, Mother told me of your ‘list,’" she said dryly

"Aa bride"

Isabel nodded with s should never be considered"

"Did we not already agree to avoid a discussion of feelings?"

Sh, she asked, "And who is at the top of your list, h’s second daughter?" Isabel blinked

Lady Susannah was indeed a sensible choice Her breeding was exceptional, her deportment flawless, and her suitability for the rank of duchess could not be denied But the delicate blonde girl had no fire, no passion "She would bore you to tears"

"Come now," he demurred "She cannot be as bad as that"

Her eyes widened "You have yet to ?"

"I’ve seen her! I would not ht unseen" He cleared his throat "I si with her yet"

Shaking her head, Isabel felt again like she did not quite fit in with her sensible fa out of love was a dreadful experience, but falling into it wasn’t so bad She was certainly a far wiser and better-rounded individual than she had been beforewith me today, for Lady Susannah will certainly be at the breakfast Be certain you speak with her"