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"What ails Lord Mal Verne?" Tricky asked, looking up into Clee shoulders ainst the stone wall at which he leaned Tricky pulled her attention away from those broad, capable shoulders and found her interest wandering over the meaty arms that crossed over his aze

She felt her heart pick up speed He was such a large man, and when he looked at her like that-with a combination of irritation and flat disinterest, but so heavily that she felt her chest swell-Tricky felt light-headed and the need for support She groped for the bench and sat upon it, focusing her attention on her feet and the arrangement of her skirts over them

"He nearly threw hihtthe need to fill the silence that yawned between the Madelyne to be unchaperoned in the garden-but I know that she was not alone Lord Reginald" She stopped and felt the fa interesting was about to happen-like when Lord Mal Verne had arrived at Lock Rose Abbey to take Madelyne aith hied at the corners of her mouth and she chewed over her theory for a moing when you offered him comfort in the face of our lord&039;s ill telanced briefly at Tricky

"Ayethe man has a charm about him that would wither the htly Why was the oaf forever talking of Jube when she ith hih to hiht but a malcontented killjoy" She stepped closer, effectively trapping hi her fingers slowly up along his arhten your mood"

Clem pushed himself away froht Not as tall as the blonde Jube, but much taller than diminutive Tricky "Ithe hunt this day Mayhap that is the reason for his ill humor"

She could not help but notice the rapid rise and fall of his barrel chest "If you believe that his injury from the hunt is the reason for his poor temper, Clem de Ardethan, you are the veriest fool I know!" She poked hi how hard and firm it was "Look you more closely at what transpires and you will see that there is more to it than that! Did you not know that Lord Mal Verne has kissed Lady Madelyne?"

The expression on Cleht for a hter Then, irritation flashed across his face "A kiss between them? Pah! Even if it were true, &039;twould mean little more than a moment of foolishness on his part!"

"Is that, then, what a single kiss betwixt a ry now-after all, Clem had kissed her one time, and the man was dense besides!-Tricky slammed her hands onto her soft hips "I vow that makes you the veriest of fools, Cle off down the corridor, away fro after her

Tricky fumed as she rushed back to Madelyne&039;s chamber Men were so foolish-so thick-headed!

When she arrived there and found her mistress seated next to the fire, Tricky did not hesitate to share her frustration with Madelyne

"Clem is the veriest of fools! I can see it in his eye that he desires to kiss reatest of excuses to walk away!"

Madelyne set her eray eyes "Tricky are you so sure this is true-or do you only speak of wishes?"

"Oh, nay, Maddie&039;tis in his eyes and was in his kiss It&039;s just that ht it when true love s to him too, you know He doesn&039;t knohat to do with his feelings for you"