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Melisande watched the little maid in the vanity’s ether "Yes?"

"Oh, it’s nothing, ma’am," she said, then i quite polite as Mr Oaks introduced everyone, and thatnose it is, too, ma’am I don’t think he should be so awfully proud of it And he says, ‘Rather young for a lady’s maid, aren’t you?’ in this terribly stuffy voice And what I want to know is, what business is it of his anyway?’"

Melisande blinked She’d never seen Suchlike take offense at anyone or anything before "Who is this Mr Pynch?"

"He’s his lordship’s h Melisande’s hair with vigorous strokes "A big oaf of a man, no hair at all on top Cook said he served with Lord Vale in the Colonies"

"Then he’s been with Lord Vale for many years"

Suchlike braided her hair with quick, sure otten full of himself A less likable, stuck-up, nasty man I’ve rarely met"

Melisande smiled, but then the s

The door connecting her rooms to the viscount’s opened Lord Vale stood in the doorway dressed in a scarlet banyan over breeches and a shirt "Ah I’ve arrived too early Come back, shall I?"

"There’s no need,She was having trouble not staring at him His shirt was unbuttoned at the throat, and that s effect on her "That will be all, Suchlike"

The ue-tied in the presence of her new master She trotted to the door and left

Lord Vale looked after Suchlike "I hope I haven’t frightened your little maid"

"She’s just nervous in a new house" Melisande watched him in the mirror as he roamed her room, an exotic h aloud at the thought

He strolled to the little fireplace and peered at a china clock on thetoilet I’m terrible about time I can return in another half hour or so, if you’d prefer"

"No I’m perfectly ready" She took a breath, stood, and turned

He looked at her, his gaze trailing down over her lace-trimmed chemise It was voluhten at the touch of his eyes

Then he blinked and looked away "Perhaps you would like soe of disappointh her, but she didn’t let it show She inclined her head "That would be nice"

"Excellent" He moved to a side table by the fireplace where a decanter stood and poured two glasses

She ca near hilass "There you are"

"Thank you" She took the glass and sipped Was he nervous? He was staring into the fire, so she sank into one of the gilt chairs and waved at the other "Please Won’t you sit, my lord?"

"Yes Quite" He sat and drained half his glass, then leaned forward suddenly, the glass dangling fro to figure out how to say this properly all day, and I’ve yet to find a way, so I’ll just say it We ement, which was my own damned fault, and I’m sorry But because of all that, we haven’t had a chance to beco, ah"

"Yes?"

"Perhaps you’d rather wait" He finally raised his eyes to hers and watched her with so very much like pity "It’s your decision--I leave it completely up to you"

It caht, that perhaps he didn’t find her attractive enough to bed Why should he, after all? She was tall and rather thin, her figure not particularly shapely And her face had never been called pretty He’d flirted with her, but then he flirted with every wo She looked at him mutely What was she to do? What could she do? They’dthat could be undone

She didn’t want it undone

He’d continued speaking during her awful realization "and we could wait a bit, ayou wished because--"

"No"

He stopped "I beg your pardon?"

If they waited, there was a chance theshe wanted--the last thing he’d said he wanted She couldn’t let that happen

She set her glass on the table in front of the fire "I don’t want to wait"