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Emeline cocked her head as she realized that he wanted a chaperone Well, why hadn’t the silly man said so in the first place and saved her all this embarrassment? "I’m afraid that won’t be possible"

"Why not?" The words were soft, but there was an edge of command behind the ladies frohest ranks of society I don’t believe your sister can meet my standards I’m sorry"

He watched her for a aze was on a bench at the end of the path, Emeline doubted very much that he saw it "Perhaps, then, I can plead another reason for you to take us on"

She stilled "What is that?"

His eyes looked back at her, and now there was no trace of a of Emeline’s heart was very loud in her ears Because, of course, Reynaud was her brother Her brother who had been killed in the massacre of the 28th

SHE SMELLED OF lemon balm Sam inhaled the familiar scent as he waited for Lady E hiotiations with a clever opponent But it was odd to discover this sophisticated lady wearing such a hoarden in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, and the scent pitched hih-hewn table as a sreen leaves The fresh scent had risen with the steam from the thick earthenware cup Lemon balm Balm to the soul, Mother had called it

"Reynaud is dead," Lady Emeline said abruptly "Why do you think I’d do you this favor simply because you say you knew him?"

He examined her face as she spoke She was a beautiful woman; there was no doubt about that Her hair and eyes were dramatically dark, her mouth full and red But hers was a coence in those dark eyes and by the skeptical purse of those red lips

"Because you loved hiht flicker He’d guessed right, then; she’d been close to her brother If he was kind, he’d not presuotten him much, either in business or in his personal life "I think you’ll do it for his memory"

"Humph" She didn’t look particularly convinced

But he knew otherwise It was one of the first things he’d learned to recognize in the import business: the exact otiation tipped in Sathen his position Saain, and she stared at it a ertips on his sleeve He felt the thrill of her acquiescence, though he was careful not to let it show

Instead, he led her farther down the garden path "My sister and I will only be in London for three months I don’t expect you to workmy help at all, then?"

He tilted his face to the late-afternoon sun, glad that he was outside noay from the people in the salon "Rebecca is only nineteen I am often occupied with my business, and I’d like her to be entertained, perhaps e" All true, if not the whole truth

"There are no felanced down at her, amused by her unsubtle question Lady Emeline was a small woht should’ve ile, but he knew Lady Emeline was no delicate piece of china He’d watched her for so rooaze had never stoppedEven as she’d talked to their hostess, she’d kept an eye on her charges as well as on the ood money that she are of every conversation in the rooressed, and when the participants had parted In her own rarified world, she was as successful as he

Which ain entry into London society

"No,female relatives," he answered her question now "Our mother died at Rebecca’s birth and Pa only months later Fortunately, my father’s brother was a businessman in Boston He and his wife took in Rebecca and raised her They’ve both passed on since"

"And you?"

He turned to look at her "What about me?"

She frowned up at him impatiently "What happened to you when both your parents died?"

"I was sent to a boys’ acade the shock of leaving a cabin in the woods and entering a world of books and strict discipline

They had reached a brick garden wall, which marked the end of the path She halted and faced him "I must meet your sister before I can come to any decision"

"Of course," hehe had her

She shook out her skirts briskly, her black eyes narrowed, her red e of her dead brother suddenly rose up in his mind: Reynaud’s black eyes narrowed in exactly the same manner as he dressed down a soldier For a moment, the masculine face superimposed itself over the smaller, feminine face of the sister Reynaud’s heavy black brows drew together, hisas if with condemnation Sa on what the living wo

"You and your sister may visit me tomorrow I’ll let you know my decision after that Tea, I think? You do drink tea, don’t you?"

"Yes"

"Excellent Will two o’clock suit you?"