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Diana jumped back, worried they’d been seen And then she worried she’d offended Aaron with her swift recoil Again

"It’s fine," he murmured

She didn’t knohich of her concerns he meant to allay

For his part, he didn’t show any unease He walked out around the s

She heard Aaron speak to hi Just have to fetch sohwood"

Diana patted her hands down her front Gloves, cloak, reticule She had everything she’d come with, but she followed hiiveher up against the wall and clai her mouth in a passionate kiss No ti his tongue deep and putting his hands in places that were just this side of scandalous The light boning of her corset pressed into her torso--the one thing holding her together, while the rest of her seeht," she breathed a few lad you didn’t let me leave without that"

He trailed kisses toward her ear His whiskered jaw scraped deliciously against her cheek "I’s to Shopping So as Charlotte comes with us"

"Good" After one last kiss to her lips, he pulled away "I’ll coht"

He left her there, sluainst the wall Her head whirled, and God only knehere her knees had disappeared to

She s"

CHAPTER 6

"Why, Mr Dawes," Charlotte said "I al"

Aaron pulled a face of male modesty

"Doesn’t he look smart, Diana?"

Diana smiled "Mr Dawes looks quite fine"

"I’ down the brim of his hat "Best to look the part"

He did look splendid, Diana had to agree He was dressed in a rich brown topcoat that made her think of melted chocolate His freshly starched neckcloth made a delicious contrast with his bronzed skin and dark hair

That hair was still a touch too long, curling in dark waves at his collar Staring at it made her wistful

They didn’t have Mr Keane’s curricle today--just Aaron’s oagon The seat ide enough to fit three, and Diana took theover their laps

Hastings was almost two hours’ distance away, and they passed the first hour or so in near silence Which was not to say that no co One side of Diana’s body--the side pressed against hi all its own They were having a whole conversation in subtle exchanges of heat and pressure and "accidental" brushes of arainst knee Each touch electrified her She had to ration her glances in his direction so as not to give Charlotte any idea

The secret pleasure of their flirtation iddy They weren’t even halfway to their destination, and already this was her favorite outing in years

"Lud, you two are silent," Charlotte finally declared "We lad we’ve had this break in the rain," Diana said

"And not the weather!" Charlotte co the weather"

"What is it you’ll be needing in town?" Aaron asked "Where can I drop you e reach Hastings?"

"We must visit the draper’s first," Charlotte answered "That’s our main errand We need yards and yards of white for Diana’s costus shop"

"Miss Highwood’s wearing a costuot she hadn’t told hiether, there had been too s to discuss And tooto A a theatrical A panto Cordula, and Diana is playing the lead"

"Oh, is she?" Aaron slid her an a to see"

"You should co Captain Thorne will be there, of course And I just received a letter fro down froht like to see thehwood?" he asked "Would I be welcoh"

When they reached Hastings, Aaron saw theon to thehis business Diana and Charlotte spent the next hour debating sateen versus crepe, then purchasing great spools of ribbon and gold braid to make headdresses for each of Ursula’s eleven hand Prince Meriadoc, do you think Lord Dreear a codpiece?" Charlotte whispered

"What a question! I’oing to notice you" Charlotte draped a length of white brocade over Diana’s shoulder "You’ll be stunning"

Uncomfortable with that line of conversation, Diana took the fabric and folded it away She nette for Male" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>