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She let a fewcontinued

"Oh, Papa" She turned her body, resting her forehead against the doorjaown sash "I don’t want you to worry It won’t happen again I’irls, run mad with scarlet fever when officers h to know I can’t allow a man like that anywhere nearsome more "Just so"

Yes Just so

No ued her, baited herkissed hershe th Her inner peace and reputation depended on it, and the ladies of Spindle Cove depended on her

She took a deep breath, feeling unburdened and resolved "I’lad we had this talk, Papa"

Then she lifted the knife and fork fro hunk of roasted beef into thin slices She split a roll and wedged the ree on tiptoe around the edge of his desk She balanced the sandwich by his inkwell, hoping he would notice it eventually

"Good night" In an impulsive move, she leaned over the desk and kissed the top of his balding head "Please remember to eat"

She made it all the way back to the door before he responded And the words ca to her froht, ht"

Nine

When she returned to her bed, Susanna told herself she needn’t worry about Lord Rycliff They’d agreed to keep the men and ladies separate With any luck, they would both be so busy, she would scarcely see the man until the midsummer fair

She hadn’t reckoned on church

The very next , there he was Seated directly across the aisle from her at a distance of four, perhaps five feet away

And today, he’d shaved

She noted that detail first But he was stunning, generally Resplendent in his dress uniforht froh above The braid and buttons on his coat flashed with such polished luster, it alht hers across the aisle

With a gulp, Susanna buried her nose in her prayer book and resolved to think pure thoughts It didn’t work Throughout the service, she was always a beat too late in standing or sitting Whatever the topic of Mr Keane’s homily, it was utterly lost on her

She couldn’t help but steal glances whenever an excuse presented itself--whether that excuse was an ie to stretch her neck Of course, she was hardly alone All the other parishioners were stealing looks, too But Susanna felt reasonably certain she was the only one connecting those brief, forbidden glirasping the prayer book? Yesterday, they’d swept over her body with bold, irreverent intent

That clean-shaven jaw, so well defined and er

Those wide, sensual lips, currently h the litany? Yesterday, those lips had been kissing her Passionately Breathing her name in a hot, needy whisper Susanna Susanna fair

When the call to prayer finally came, she clamped her eyes shut

God preserve me Deliver me from this most horrible affliction

No mistake, she’d contracted a most virulent strain of infatuation

Why him, of all men? Why couldn’t she develop a silly tendre for the vicar, as soand well-spoken, and he dressed very sth and heat hat enticed her, why didn’t she dawdle around the blackse?

She knew the answer, deep inside Those otherelse in counsood, hard strike of flint against metal to produce that s and e for church, but sometimes he would join her for the Sunday uests

"Mr Keane," she called, ainst the current of people as she lihted if you would join us for dinner today"

The vicar turned, revealing his conversation partner Lord Rycliff

Drat Too late to change course now The vicar bowed, and Susanna found it in herself to curtsy "Can we count on you for dinner, Mr Keane?" Sliding her gaze to the left, she said coolly, "Lord Rycliff, you would be welcome, too"

Mr Keane smiled "I thank you for the kind invitation, Miss Finch But ith the call for volunteers today"

"Today?" Susanna was taken aback "I didn’t realize Lord Rycliff meant to do that today"

Keane cleared his throat "ErI did announce it from the pulpit Just now"

"You did?" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lord Rycliff’s amused expression "Oh Oh, that Yes, of course, Mr Keane I did hear you say that"

Rycliff spoke "So you see, Miss Finch, the good vicar can’t accept your kind invitation He’s going to volunteer"

"I am?" This seemed to be news to Mr Keane He flushed red "Well, II a and able, of course But I don’t know that it’s seeive it some reflection" He frowned and studied his linked hands Then he brightened "I know Let’s ask Miss Finch"

Rycliff’s annoyance at hearing those three words could not have been