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He took her fingers and kissed the very tips "Yes I will"

Elizabeth stared down at her hand Dear Lord, the ht there in the hall Too stunned to pull her hand back, she looked right and left, terrified that a servant ht stumble upon them

"You had never been kissed before yesterday," he murmured

"Of course not!"

"Not even on the hand" He let her fingers drop, then took her other hand and kissed her knuckles

"Mr Siddons!" she gasped "Are you lad you haven't been kissed before"

"You are mad Utterly mad And," she added defensively, "of course I've been kissed on the hand"

"Your father doesn't count''

More than anything, Elizabeth wanted to find a hole in the ground and jump in it She felt her cheeks burn, and she knew that she didn't have to say a word for hiht There weren't very e, and certainly none of theh to kiss her on the hand

"Who are you?" she whispered

He looked at her oddly, his brown eyes narrowing "James Siddons You know that"

She shook her head "You've never been an estate er before I'd bet my life on it"

"Would you like to seeA servant would--"

"Ah, but I am not precisely a servant," he interrupted "As you are not I understand you're of the local gentry"

She nodded

"Mine is an old family, as well," he continued "Our pride, unfortunately, was not lost with our money"

"Unfortunately?"

One corner of his mouth turned up "It makes for aard moments"

"Like this one," Elizabeth said fir roo, I', and while I don't profess to know your mind, / do not wish towhy he suddenly felt as if he'd been dressed down by his governess He grinned "You're good at that"

Elizabeth had ed to take three steps toward the kitchen She let out a frustrated breath and turned around "At what?"

"At speaking to a grown man as if he were a child I feel quite put inher hand toward him "Just look at you You don't look the least bit contrite You're grinning like an idiot"

He cocked his head "I know"

Elizabeth threw up her hands "I have to go"

"You make me smile"