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She looked to him Finally looked, for the first tiaze ht before Made her want to believe it hadto him As it had to her "Well, the point is, I would appreciate it if you would render eable Then I will be able to find et my bookshop somewhere quiet, and live a life Free"
"Free of what?" he asked
"Of all of it," she said, unable to keep the truth fros I loathe"
"Of me"
No
She forced a smile "You know better than anyone hoe truly feel about each other"
He was silent for a longwhat he was thinking
We don’t even like each other, she wanted to remind him
To re himself "Done I’ll see you publicly ruined if that’s what you want"
"It is I want the freedoame well, Lady Sophie, and we’ll be rid of each other before you even realize ere together"
Except she had realized it She’d realized it the day prior, when they’d raced froht prior, when he’d kissed her until she thought she’d go , when he’d hurt her so thoroughly, and without thought
They were together, and somehow, she adored and loathed it all at the same time
She shook out her skirts "Is it tiaze flickered to the deep blue fabric, bordering on purple "That color is beautiful on you"
She willed herself not to blush under his compliment Failed She looked away "They call it royal blue"
Fit for a King
When she returned her attention to hihtfully "It’s beautiful If slightly too short"
Leave it to hiain, I haven’tto impress my dinner companions"
"I should like to see you in a dress that fits you You deserve one that fits That’s all I itimate surprise in the words, and she hated that he hadn’t meant to hurt her Hated that the fact war the room, careful to keep her posture perfect, she faced him, mere inches between them "You haven’t any idea what I deserve"
There was a beat, and he said, "I know you deserve better than this"
Her breath caught at the echo of the words, no longer a taunt, now an honest, quiet observation She willed herself not to allow hiht The part of her that could too easily ihly of her He didn’t Thehad proved it This afternoon proved it Now proved it She pushed past hiin our charade, the faster it is co her for a long moment before he said, "Full cooperation, Sophie, or no ruination"