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A blush climbed her throat "I’ve always believed a woman should kno to protect herself" She reached for the powder horn and a glea, polished example of the pistol hich she shared a na since sunup to put the tea shop back to rights," he said He nodded toward his cousin "And I’ve brought Payne along to apologize If he doesn’t do a fair job of it, you can use hiet practice"
She didn’t se incurred And it’s not y"
Concerned, he looked around the shooting party "Is Miss Highwood still feeling poorly?"
She poured a e with a patch-wrapped ball "I stopped by early thisfor caution’s sake, but I don’t think she’ll suffer any lasting effects frolad to hear it"
"However"--she cocked her weapon--"her hters from Spindle Cove There’s a new spa in Kent, you see She’s heard they do res with leeches and mercury"
Susanna turned, leveled her pistol at the distant target, and shot A whisper of sli from her ears, as well
Bram muttered an oath "I’ll send my cousin to call on the and persuasive with the ladies"
"In all honesty, reater toxic potential Your cousin’s charm, or the hwood is all but packing her trunks Miss Winterbotto, too If they leave, others will doubtless follow If the general concern reaches Society at large, our reputation as a safe haven will be destroyed All the fa will come to an end And for what? This absurd militia is doomed to fail The men are hopeless"
Never ed to pull her into his arht as he had beneath thattree
"Susanna, look at me"
He waited until those clear, iris-blue eyes met his
"I will ht, but it won’t happen again My cousin and I will convince the ladies it’s safe to stay Until the htly reined and out of your way And soht, I will drill theuests"
She made a sound of disbelief
"I will," he repeated "Because that’s an officer’s duty To make unlikely men into soldiers, and to ensure they turn up trained and prepared, wherever and whenever they’re needed It’s what I do, and I’ood at it"
She released a breath "I know I’m sure you’re a very capable commander, when you don’t have to contend with teacakes and poetry and cudgel-wielding bluestockings"
"I have been distracted But that’s all to do with you, Miss Finch"
Her lips curved a little A tiny fishhook of a sed
But then it faded, and she turned froe Her spine was straight; her shoulders, bravely squared But the fear was there, in the tiny quiver of her bottoraceful curve of her shoulder She felt responsible for the place, and she was scared
He couldn’t let her feel that way Not when he had the perfect opportunity and every honorable reason to ht now, this very ht, but now the decision simply clicked within hi cocked
"Don’t worry About anything" He stepped back a pace, heading in the direction of the house "I’rovel before your ladies Make him fall on his knees, if you would I’m off to have a talk with your father"
"Wait," she said, turning back to hiave me your word"
"Oh, don’t worry" He turned away "I’ to him about the militia This is strictly to do with you and me"
Susanna watched hi if she’d understood him correctly Did he just say he meant to speak with her father? About the two of them?
If he intended that the way it sounded
"Oh drat" She picked up her skirts and gave chase
She caught up to him just as he reached the house’s side entrance "What do youto speak to my father? About us? Surely you can’t mean that the way it sounds"
"Certainly I can"
A foot her on the threshold with no further explanation Teasing, cryptichi to"--she dropped her voice to a scandalized whisper--" to ht renders that conversation rather irrelevant, don’t you agree?"
"No No, I don’t agree" Panic struck her in the breastbone She put a hand on his ar to tell ht"
"Not in so er he’s going to gather the reason why"
"Precisely And if athers the reason why, everyone will All the ladies The whole village Braaze captured hers "It’s the only decent thing to do"