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So Braaze Stared deeply, directly into her eyes until he -hot cinder of attraction they juggled back and forth between them

The air ith her effort not to breathe, and her gaze dipped--ever so briefly--to his host of a kiss

Oh yes, he told her with a subtle lift of his brow That’s e’re doing here

She sed hard But she didn’t turn away

Da into her eyes, he saw it all Those iris-hued irises held wit and passion, anddepths Intriguing depths he very much wished to explore A ht At intervals, of course There would need to be lengthy stretches of gasping and hter, his conscience blared in his ear The problem was, the rest of his body didn’t bloody well care

She cleared her throat, abruptly breaking the spell she’d cast on hie, won’t you favor us with a poe wo a paper She appeared

Until she opened her mouth, that was

"O, vile betrayer! O, defiler of vows!"

Well Now she had the rooe, like distant thunder My heart, the beast doth ripped asunder My cove, the wretched brute did plunder--though not thoroughly" She glanced up from her paper "Small wonder"

Miss Finch leaned toward hied from her husband"

"You don’t say," hesome polite applause

But the poem didn’t stop there Oh no It went on

For several minutes

There were many, many verses of epic infaer the woher her voice pitched Her hands even began to shake

"All my trust he did betray, when to another he fain would stray That cruel deed I did repay With the help of a bronze tea tray His blood had the temerityto stain the drapes of dimity" She squeezed her eyes shut "I recall it well, that rusty stain It is my promise Nevernevernever--"

The rooain"

Silence

"Brava!" Colin shot to his feet, applauding wildly "Well done, indeed Let’s have another"

Out of the corner of his eye, Bra at the corners She was struggling, htily, not to cover that hter, the tart bite of her clever wit To claih, beastly, medieval fashion

His only course of action was clear

He pushed back froainst the floorboards As every woman in the place turned to hiruffly, "Afternoon"

Then he walked straight out the door

Seven

Susanna followed hi, she’d launched from her chair, swept out the door, and followed the ione But she couldn’t allow hi her skirts, she hurried after hi ladies were anxious, but they ht have at least taken proper leave"

For that ht have accepted a dratted lavender teacake, or dinner last night at Su her until she blushed and girlishly fidgeted with her hair, in front of all her protégées Hewith this man, that he couldn’t comport himself in polite society? His cousin was a viscount Surely he’d been raised a gentlereen, only e, Lord Rycliff Visitors journey great distances to enjoy fine, sunny weather and a restorative atood look around you, perhaps you’ll find the place doing you so it, but the presence of a dour, brooding lordship doesn’t fit with the advertising"

"I’d iine it doesn’t" Rycliff took his horse’s reins fro Pansy "I didn’t belong in that place I kneell The question is, Miss Finchwhat are you doing in this village?"

"I’ve been trying to explain it to you We have a community of ladies here in Spindle Cove, and we support one another with friendship, intellectual sti"

"No, no I can see how this ht appeal to abetter But what are you doing here?"

Perplexed, she turned her gloved hands pal her a skeptical look Even his horse snorted in see disbelief "A woman like you"

She bristled Just what kind of woman did he think she was?

"If you think yourself content with no " In a swift motion, he pulled himself into the saddle His next words were spoken down at her,all the wronginto a canter and rode away, leaving her affronted and sputtering She whirled on her heel, only to come nose-to-epaulet with Corporal Thorne

She sed hard Fro presence Up close, he was terrifying But Susanna’s anger and curiosity were too greatly piqued Together, they overrode all sense of etiquette or caution

"What’s the matter with that man?" she asked the corporal