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"If you’d visited, it would only have caused you distress," she said feebly "Even now, Iher face

He ducked, peering under it "Isabel, listen toto stand before all London, the Holy Trinity, and even those two boorish brothers of yours and pledge youfidelity and protection In sickness and in health" He pulled her hand away froers around hers "And with God as ht now--you are the ht I’ve beheld in ten days"

She couldn’t decide whether he was teasing her or deceiving her But then, she didn’t really want to know "I’ve missed you," she said quietly That was the silad of it" He smiled "Miss Osborne tells me you’ve one I’h food, she says"

"It’s … it’s still painful to eat," she said "My throat…" She feigned a little cough, in lieu of co the sentence

"Isabel, you th I’ve just spoken to your brother He’s suggesting we postpone the wedding"

"Oh, hemuch improved already"

This, too, was the truth Perhaps she had been wrong to keep hi about the way he looked at her, with that shadow of a s infuriated her at tie sort of compliment to her character While bullies teased to belittle and hurt, Toby’s good-natured jibes had quite the opposite effect He teased not out of h to bear it

And thus far, he had always been right

She gave his fingers a little squeeze "The wedding o on as planned"

Relief was plain in the relaxation of his shoulders He added his free hand to the tangle of their fingers, surrounding hers with his strong, warht you so her, he reached for the parcel he’d brought

"Medicine? But Miss Osborne has already dosed me with--"

"This is a different sort of leae and withdrew a chilled glass dish mounded with a nut-brown ice

"The flavor is chocolate Blended with hazelnut and, I’m told, a hint of cinnamon"

"Toby, really …"

"I insist" He pressed a spoon into her hand "If it pains you to eat solid food, you must take what you can An ice is the perfect remedy for a sore throat The coolness is a balave her a wicked s"

Bel could already feel her resistanceHer raw throat worked as she i sweetness

"I… I couldn’t possibly"

"Is it the sugar that concerns you?"

She nodded, hoping he would take pity on her conscience and quickly pack the dish away He pressed it closer, taking the spoon fro up a bite of the ice "Isabel, don’t be concerned I ordered this ice specially made for you It’s sweetened with honey"

"Honey?"

"Yes, pure English honey, collected from very contented bees I interviewed the beekeeper myself, and he assured e, and given the Sabbath to rest And now that they’ve done their service, I’ve arranged for the whole hive to be pensioned off to a charht next to athe spoon toward her lips, "you led For heaven’s sake, she never giggled With those srin, he was bound to be a terrific success in Parliait" Leaning closer, he lifted the spoon to her et well, if we are tointensity "And I don’t wish to delay"

She closed her eyes If she were truly strong, she would find it in herself to push the teh she knew in her conscience she shouldn’t give in

…

She did

Her lips closed around the chilled spoon, and she drew on it with light suction, pulling the frozen confection into her mouth

Oh

Oh, paradise