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Victoria drew herself up, htly away from Sebastian and aware that her neck was , not mine"

"Bla black cape? Surely you wouldn’t have made such an unfortunate choice Besides, I rather like my costume," she added

"As do I," said Sebastian His voice was as easy and smooth as the thin fabric, and to her shock and surprise, she felt his hands s the sides of her hips anddown

"Sebastian," she breathed, and stepped away, her silk-stockinged leg lunging out fro at angles to each other

"Perhaps you could save it for later," Max said agreeably "There’s not a carriage in sight"

Victoria glared at him from behind her mask He’d never missed an opportunity to coe--although how he had ever found out that bit of information, she’d never been able to learn "It’s more than a bit risky for you to be here Do you think that even though you wear a nize you?"

"Ah, that No disguise can obscure true love" He was laughing now, sardonically but also with real huht, and one that , Victoria, for I passed directly next to Sara, and she flickered not an eyelash" He turned to Sebastian "And how did you find Vauxhall? Such a convenient place for an assignation"

Sebastian looked at hied in an assignation"

"Ah" Max inclined his head in full mockery "A case of mistaken identity, perhaps I was fairly certain--but never mind Victoria and I had a pleasant chat in your absence"

"I do hope I’rateful for the interruption and startled as she realized that James Lacy, the Marquess of Rockley, had soly, he’d found her--despite the fancy mask and her solitary arrival Unfortunately, she knew just who to blame for that happenstance She considered--and i, but kneas useless Her ether Thank God Lady Melly hadn’t planned to attend tonight, although she’d obviously found a way to communicate with James about Victoria’s costume

The fact that the threeher so quickly and easily when she’d taken such pains to reave Max’s criticish her disguise as easily

"Good evening, my lord," Victoria said when she realized her two other companions had not responded, and ht, co in the war a wooden sword

"Perhaps you would granta disjointed bow She noticed that he’d positioned himself so that he was between Sebastian and herself

"I certainly would--"

"But she’s already promised it to me"

Victoria could not have been more surprised if Lilith had walked into the rooht have expected Sebastian to led look on his face was any indication, he had intended to--but not Max

Max? Dance?

Max? Engage in social frivolities? It was just as well that Victoria couldn’t speak right away, for that gave James the opportunity to respond "But is there another spot on your dance card, Mrs--er, Lady Rockley?" And before she could respond, he plucked it out of her hand, complete with the tiny pencil and its silvery blue ribbon "But there is nothing written on here," he began

Max slanced at it "Indeed there isn’t" Victoria couldn’t see his brows raise in that way he had, but she knew they did, beneath his mask "My , "Be uest, ently to the dance floor "Do close your gaping ed you out here"

"But you have I never thought you would be one to engage in--"