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Which was exactly how Jaht of uely dizzy, breathing hard, and he had only one thing on his mind

Elizabeth Hotchkiss

When Elizabeth arrived at Danbury House thatto do as much as look at the cover of HOW TO MARRY A MARQUIS, but when she'd arrived ho on her bed, its bright red binding practically daring her to open it

Elizabeth had told herself she was just going to take one peek; all she wanted to do was see if there was soh, but before she knew it, she was sitting on the edge of her bed, engrossed

And now she had soaround her head she was positively dizzy She wasn't to flirt with ive a ive a suitor the cut direct if he forgot her birthday

"Thank heavens for small favors," she reat hall Her birthday was h in the future so as not to disrupt courtships she oodness' sake What was she thinking? She'd told herself she wasn't going to let Mrs Seeton tell her what to do, and here she was--

"You look rather serious this "

Elizabeth looked up with a start "Mr Siddons," she said, her voice squeaking a bit on the first syllable of his na, I assure you, isvery aard in this ether quite famously the day before, and Elizabeth had even felt that they ht call thehed That was before she'd stayed up half the night thinking about him

He immediately held out his handkerchief

Elizabeth felt herself blush and prayed it wasn't too obvious "It's not necessary," she said quickly "I was just clearing my throat"

THUMP!

"That would be Lady Danbury," Mr Siddonsto turn toward the sound

Elizabeth stifled a coh, Lady Danbury was at the other end of the hall, thu

"Goodher way toward the older wo?"

"Like I'm seventy-two years old," she retorted

"Well, that's unfortunate," Elizabeth replied with a perfectly straight face, "since I have it on the best of accounts that you are no more than sixty-seven"

"Impertinent chit You know very well I'm sixty-six"

Elizabeth hid her s roos already and three pieces of toast, and I don't want to sit in the drawing roo"

Elizabeth blinked in surprise She and Lady Danbury spent everyroom And of Lady D's many lectures, her most favorite was on the prophylactic qualities of routine

"I have decided to sit in the garden," Lady D announced