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Jarinned "Both Now, then, just tell atha"--he leaned down and kissed her cheek--"it's damned fine to see you"

She smiled "I love you, too, James"

By the time Elizabeth reached her home, she was out of breath and covered with mud She'd been so anxious to be away from Danbury House that she'd practically run the first quarter mile Unfortunately, it had been a particularly wet summer in Surrey, and Elizabeth had never been especially coordinated And as for that protruding tree root--well, there was really no way to avoid it, and so, with a splat, Elizabeth saw her best dress ruined

Not that her best dress was in particularly good condition There certainly wasn't enoughunless one had coarments But still, Elizabeth had some pride, and if she couldn't dress her family in the first stare of fashion, at the very least she could make certain they were all neat and clean

Now there was mud caked onto her velvet sash, and even worse, she'd actually stolen a book from Lady Danbury And not just any book She'd stolen what had to be the stupidest,And all because she had to auction herself off to the highest bidder

She sed as tears formed in her eyes What if there were no bidders? Then where would she be?

Elizabeth stamped her feet on the front stoop to shake off the h the front door of her sh the hall and up the stairs to her roo her, but Susan was too fast

"Good heavens! What happened to you?"

"I slipped," Elizabeth ground out, never taking her eyes off of the stairs

"Again?"

That was enough to lare "What do youback around with every intention ofto and up the stairs, but her hand connected with a side table "O!" she howled

"Ooh," Susan said, wincing in sympathy "I'll bet that hurts"

Elizabeth just stared at her, eyes narrowing into angry slits

"Terribly sorry," Susan said quickly, clearly recognizing her sister's badevery word as if careful diction would somehow reoing to lie down and take a nap And if anyone bothers me, I shall not answer to the consequences"

Susan nodded "Jane and Lucas are out playing in the garden I shall make certain they are quiet if they return"

"Good, I-- O!"

Susan winced "What now?"

Elizabeth bent down and picked up a small metal object One of Lucas's toy soldiers "Is there any reason," she said, "that this is sitting on the floor where anyone may step upon it?"

"None that I can think of," Susan said with a halfhearted atteood day"

"No, I didn't think you were"

Elizabeth tried to smile, but all she did was stretch her lips She just couldn't et the corners to turn up

"Would you like ently

Elizabeth nodded "That would be lovely, thank you"