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Once the wine had been poured, the servants began covering the table with soup tureens and domed platters

"I hope no one minds if we dine en famille," Amelia said "It seems we are all close friends or family, in one way or another"

Frouests nodded their approval But no one spoke Lily worried that the coful conversation

As the footuest’s lap, she screwed up her courage and turned to her dinner partner "May I ask where your family resides, Commander?"

"In Somersetshire, my lady My father is a baronet I’m the third son The ne’er-do-well, I’e of seventeen"

"You uished yourself very quickly, to have reached such an elevated rank"

Michael said, "The co the action in Chesapeake Bay three years past He was there for the burning of the city of Washington"

"Is that so?"

But no ansas forthcoentleiddy ripple of laughter at the lieutenants’ end of the table, but as Lily watched, the a glance toward the doorway confirmed her suspicion

Julian had arrived And arrived in style He was alell-dressed, but tonight he’d outdone himself Every detail of his appearance--each button, cuff, or twist of his cravat--had been arranged with such precision, the s by coize for my tardiness I was"--he cast Lily a brief, cryptic look--"detained"

The duke inclined his head with thinly veiled irritation Amelia made hasty introductions, and everyone settled back to the table

Lily indicated the ee Julian’s arrival ought to have heralded a deep surge of relief in her soul If he was here, that er And if he was here, it meant she had an ally to facilitate coht

But when he approached, took her hand, and bowed over it--his intense blue eyes never leaving hers--it wasn’t relief she felt, but a prickling awareness that seeround beneath her narrowed, coiled round and round on itself until she balanced on a taut, thin cable stretched between this

As Julian took his place at the table and the footman poured his wine, Lily found her attention drawn to parts of hies of his fingernails The freshly clipped fringe of hair just behind his ear The red, razor-thin score on the underside of his jaw--the result of overzealous shaving, perhaps The faint sandalwood aro soap hovered about his expanded greedily, determined to catch more of it

Had his earlobes always been that square-ish shape? Why had she never noticed it before?

Why was she noticing now?

Julian suddenly turned his head, and his gaze crashed straight into hers She startled, e His eyebrow quirked in question She didn’t have an answer

"Co hard as she turned "You were telling us about the burning of Washington"

"Yes," the co a bit "We occupied the American capitol for all of six-and-twenty hours before ere forced to retreat But I was part of the group who burned the White House When we entered, we found supper waiting on the table Hospitable of them, wasn’t it?"

"Truly?" Amelia asked

"Oh, yes We walked in, and there was a meal laid for forty So before we set fire to the house, we sat down and ate Madison’s supper" He s to touch the feast you’ve laid before us tonight" He gestured toward the array of roasts and delicately sauced vegetables

Amelia blushed her thanks

At the head of the table, the duke gave his wife a look of adlass "A drink to her health Her Grace, the Duchess of Morland"

In unison, the lieutenants bolted to their feet with a chorus of "Hear, hear!" before sitting and gulping wine

Julian’s brow creased with annoyance "Such enthusiasm Is that a naval tradition?"

Lily took it upon herself to explain "The commander has requested his lieutenants stand when they speak, so that I may better follow the conversation Isn’t that considerate of hireement

She didn’t receive it

"‘Considerate’ isn’t the word"

The lieutenant in the middle rose from his chair "If I may say it, Mr Bellamy, it’s an honor to meet you, sir"

Lily smiled at his earnestness These officers were a perfect audience for Julian’s chareneration, they clearly idolized hier one rose "At sea, we’re always telling jokes and a stories All the best ones trace back to you"

"All the bawdiest, you nored the one-at-a-time proviso and fairly exploded from his seat "Do Prinny! Or Byron, if you will"