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Bel winced "Toby, don’t Don’t torture yourself It doesn’tanyway"

"But of course they do," Madame Pamplemousse said "Everyone in London reads The Prattler"

"Not just everyone in London," Toby added "Since polling began, it’s the best-selling paper in Surrey, according to Colin Brooks Perhaps I ought to deliver copies when I ride out there each "

"You wouldn’t," Bel said

"No, I wouldn’t," he replied "Because--according to today’s edition--I’ht here, I’ve been cos My entire candidacy is a sham"

"What? But that’s absurd!"

"Is it?" Toby’s slow footfalls crossed the room

"Yes, of course it is You’ve been gone from dawn to dusk every day Where else would you have been spending your time?"

He paused "Do you really wish to know?"

Bel considered Did she? His serious tone boded ill, but in the end her curiosity won out "Yes Yes, readnow"

He heaved a drauished publication, I’ve been spending my days here in London, at the Hidden Pearl There’s a char illustration provided by Mr Hollyhurst Would you care to see?"

"No" Bel closed her eyes "Dare I guess the nature of this establishment, the Hidden Pearl? I don’t suppose it’s a shop that sells jewels"

"Well… I wouldn’t call theround together How he found this a was beyond her co as a own from her torso "But that’s a preposterous assertion!"

"Coreed His voice sounded nearer now, just on the other side of the drapery "I haven’t gone near the Hidden Pearl in weeks"

Bel gasped with indignation

"Very well, months"

She pulled the drape to the side and craned her neck around it to glare at hirinned at her over the paper "Years?"

Insufferable tease "It’s not a laughing matter, Toby!"

"Of course it is As you say, it’s a preposterous assertion The only thing for it is to laugh"

"We know it to be preposterous, but what of everyone else? What if people read that paper and believe that you … that you …"

"Have a penchant for trinkets?" His eyebrow quirked "Don’t tell ripped the curtain to her chest and blinked away an unshed tear "I’m sorry I don’t knohy I’irl, she chided herself She’d been well aware of Toby’s reputation before she married hiht, that public speculation wouldday? That the wo their lashes in his direction? That The Prattler would plaster his i exairl

Toby’s gaze flitted back and forth between her face and the velvet drape wrapped around her chest "That’s a lovely color on you," he said thoughtfully "Yes, that will serve very well"

She sniffed

"Co aside the newspaper, he framed her face in his war "Let me dress you up and devastate London with your beauty I proain--because no one would ever believe it They’ll know, no painted bauble at the Hidden Pearl could ever coant woether, and they will know the truth" His thumb stroked her cheek "There’s no other lady for ether The rest of her fell apart Oh, how she wished he would kiss her Right here in theroom, while she stood wrapped in her shift and a velvet curtain, in front of all these preening French coquettes

He did

And this ti

Toby held that kiss just as long as he dared While he kissed her, her lips couldn’t form questions While he kissed her, his lips couldn’t lie

There’s no other lady fortruth, and he poured it all into this chaste, sweet kiss, hoping his wife could feel and believe it

Lord knew, she wasn’t too quick to recognize truth when it was spoken aloud His heart still pounded in his chest, after that close scrape just noith The Prattler He’d coain, she’d displayed such co himself to destroy it Confession was out of the question

No, Toby had a different plan

"Now, then," he whispered, breaking the kiss "Be a good girl and have your measurements Allow me to discuss the style with Madame I’ll make certain you’re happy"