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Immediately, several other ladies expressed an interest in receiving the sa Bel a sood would come of it And we haven’t even had the de of the demonstration, I had better make certain the equipment has been readied" Bel ducked into the corridor and made her way back toward the Rose Parlor Then she stopped short

A tall, familiar masculine silhouette filled the foyer Bel’s heart leapt

"Joss!" she exclailad you’re here I need a list of the ar from the cooperative The ladies are …"

Her voice trailed off as she noticed so Grinning, really Almost idiotically so She hadn’t seen him wear an expression like that in nearly two years, not since before Mara’s death

"Forgiveto say, and here I’ on What is it?"

"I need to ask you to help look after Jacob I’ll be away for ato sea?"

"No, no This is a land journey" He took her hands in his "Bel, I’ married"

Her mouth fell open The breath whistled in and out of her a few times before she could convince her lips to form words "Married? But to who wider still

"Married To Hetta" Bel shook her head wonderingly "I can’t believe it I thought you--"

"Despised her?"

"Soht I did, too Fortunately, Hetta’s a great deal more clever than I" His eyes lit with pride "We’ll be traveling north, to see her father and be enerously offered us Corbinsdale for our honeyaze "Bel, are you all right? You’ve gone pale"

Bel put a hand to her brow "I’m sorry, I don’t mean to act so shocked I adore Hetta, and I’m happy for you both It’s just such a surprise After Mara, I didn’t think you’d--"

"I know" He squeezed her hand "I didn’t think I would, either But I’ve never been so happy to be proven wrong"

"But e, Joss? And so quickly? Aren’t you …" She chewed her lip "Aren’t you frightened at all?"

"Of course I a "I’m scared witless That’s how I know I’hter war How cruel life could be She was getting her brother back and losing hi "That would explain why I’m terrified for you," she said "It must be because I love you so et Mara," he told her "I loved her I know you loved her, too And I’ll never forget how devastating it was to lose her But I can’t let fear keepNot anymore I’ve survived so to let that keepthe best"

She blinked back a tear "When do you leave?"

"Tonight, on the mail coach Sophia and Gray are there with Jacob, of course, and his nursemaid But I know he’d enjoy frequent visits from his Auntie Bel"

"Then he shall have them"

"Bel?" Sophia called from down the corridor "I think the ladies are nearly finished with breakfast"

"I’ll be right there," Bel said, sniffing She gave Joss an apologetic s, too" He bent to kiss her cheek "Offer ratulations? On what?"

"On his election, naturally The polls close today I heard it fro Not that the outcorimaced "It’s a shame I’m certain Toby would rather have won under different circu to make any contrary statement she would then be forced to explain She was sure Toby would rather have not won at all He’d gone to such lengths to ensure his defeat The i caricature appeared in her mind, and she felt the stab of his betrayal anew This, from the man who claiestures of love and hurt frouard with Toby And shehim in return Bel kne to survive the wounds of love, but she couldn’t live with herself for inflicting them He’d made her feel safe, but it had all been a lie No one could protect her froaze, she willed a smile to her face Truly, she had no reason for cootten exactly what she wanted A polite, advantageous e to a man with a seat in Parliament, and the funds and opportunity to work tirelessly for the causes of good

This was her happy ending

"Please give htly "She’s won herself the best of husbands Here--" She snatched the paper-wrapped book fro it into Joss’s hand, she said, "An engageood-bye, Bel returned to the breakfast room and invited the ladies to join her in the parlor for their debacked chair nearest the hearth, "where is this strapping chihter rippled through the asse her hand toward a slender, jointed rod topped with an arrangement of stiff wire brushes "But there is no chimney sweep No man, at any rate I will be the one to demonstrate the machinery"

The ladies all stared at her in shock, but Bel ignored theh the armholes of an apron After the scene at Aunt Ca a et of carnal jibes, or worse--the supposed object of Bel’s lust Besides, how better to demonstrate the brushes’ efficiency than to show that even a lady could use them?

Her apron donned, Bel lifted the brushes for the ladies’ inspection "You see, the wires are arranged like a parasol They remain collapsed as the machine is inserted into the flue" She flipped the brushes over "As they are withdrawn, the bristles expand to scrub the walls clean Unlike a cli boy, who has but two arms and one small brush, this machine reaches every corner of the flue at once"<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>