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"Hethe papers, "for he’s been in The Prattler every day for months If it’s not one of Mr Hollyhurst’s caricatures, it’s a notice in the society colu one so far as to tally the number of his paramours, since his near escape"

The number of his paramours? Bel almost asked Sophia to relate the estimate, then stopped herself "Surely you don’t credit any of it? Sir Toby toldin the newspapers Do you believe such behavior of hiree But I am amazed that he has tolerated such treatment" She lowered her voice "Do you realize, he could have made an immense scandal when I eloped, or even sued e contract? Yet he said nothing, at least not publicly He allowed the illusion ofin the papers all the while"

An unhappy realization settled on Bel "He hed violently

Sophia pursed her lips "No, actually I don’t believe he was But his pride must have incurred deep wounds, even if his heart remained intact It must have been difficult for him to endure all this"--she indicated the newspapers--"so quietly I don’t knohy he did, after the way I used hiarding our broken engagement, and if he had not, I would have been ruined We should not have been welcoe would have been destroyed"

"We owe hiful look "We owe him the chance to find happiness I did not love him as a wife should, but I cared for him--I care for hie"

"Trapped?" Bel’s teacupSir Toby shouldn’t h for him?"

"No, that’s not it at all," Sophia replied

"Bel, he’s not good enough for you," Gray said

"I don’t mean to say that, either" Sophia took a deep breath before continuing "Bel, Toby willhe could dreaether, I daresay you could be very happy indeed--if you loved one another"

"She’s not in love with the man" Gray’s knife clattered to his plate "She only ed Love It see that word lately Her brothers, Sophia …

they all exhorted that she ranted her sohted to receive But to Bel, this insistence on a love match presented an unwelcome obstacle "I don’t wish to marry for love Not romantic love, at any rate"

"Whyever not?" Sophia asked

She hedged It seemed impolite, and most likely in effective, to decry rohly steeped in it Her parents had married for love, as had both of her brothers Of the three matches, two had ended in desolation and the third--successful as it appeared thus far--was just a few months old She avoided love for the same reason she eschewed spirits: she’d witnessed, firsthand, the ravages of both

"I have sofor a diplomatic tone, she added, "And I’ve noticed love has a way of altering a person’s priorities"

"As well it should, if the thing’s done right," Gray said

Sophia touched her wrist "Of course you could not be in love with Toby so soon But deep in your heart, if you search, do you detect sorow to love him, with time?"

I hope not Bel pushed back frohted that you and my brother have found one another I know you mean to be kind But I do not wish to marry for love; and I would ask you to consider that perhaps Sir Toby feels the same Otherwise, why did he propose to you?"

Sophia made a subtle wince Bel’s was overt Those were the most uncharitable words she’d ever spoken to her sister Perhaps the most uncharitable words she’d spoken to anyone But here she’d resolved to eement with optimism, and Sophia seemed determined to ruin it all--first with her revelations, then her stack of scandal sheets, and now this questioning

"Please," Bel said, sinking back into her chair, "I know youhe was powerless to deny her anything when she employed a soft tone and his pet naht marry whom I choose I choose to marry Sir Toby"

"For God’s sake, why?"

"For … several reasons"

Not because she desired him, or because she’d allowed him to kiss her on the terrace Truly, that wasn’t it at all It wasn’t

"I want a e that will place me in the public notice and estured toward the stacked copies of The Prattler "Sir Toby is perfect All London takes an interest his exploits, he will soon serve in the House of Commons, and by Sophia’s own account he is a finein Parliament?" Sophia asked

"Yes Did he never mention it to you?"

"No" She looked stunned

Gray studied Bel for a moment, then put a hand to his temple "Bel, it’s not that I--"

The sound of the doorbell interrupted theain Blood rushed to her head Goodness, she’d been up and down so ht as well have been in church "Do I look well enough?"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>