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"There’s a man who thinks well of hi--could ever set hiine," Annabelle replied "But I would like to be there if it happens"

Evie drew closer and nudged her arhtly "There is Lord K-Kendall, in the corner"

"How do you know that he is Kendall?"

"Because he is surrounded by a dozen un hi at the young e William, Lord Kendall, seemed befuddled by the inordinate a He was a fair-haired, slightly built young man, his lean face adorned by a pair of perfectly polished spectacles The reflection of the glass lenses flashed as his perplexed gazeshown to a man of Kendall’s timid demeanor proved that there was no aphrodisiac more effective than endof-season bachelorhood Whereas Kendall had been supreirls last January, by June he had acquired an irresistible allure

"He looks like a nice htfully

"He looks like he will spook easily," Lillian commented "If I were you, I’d try to appear as bashful and helpless as possible when you lance " ‘Helpless’ has never been "

"I don’t foresee that you’ll have any probleirls to you," Lillian replied confidently "After supper, when the ladies and gentlemen return here for tea and conversation, we’ll find soan, and paused as she felt a soft prickle along the nape of her neck, as if someone had drawn the fronds of a fern across her skin Wondering what had caused it, she reached up to touch the back of her neck, and suddenly found her gaze caught by Si one shoulder negligently against the side of a flat pilaster, while a group of three ed in conversation He looked deceptively relaxed, his gaze intent, like that of a cat considering whether or not to pounce It was clear that he had noticed her interest in Kendall

Hell’s bells, she thought in vexation, and deliberately turned her back to him She wouldn’t put it past Hunt to cause trouble for her "Have you noticed that Mr Hunt is here?" Annabelle asked her friends in a low voice, and saw their eyes widen

"Your Mr Hunt?" Lillian sputtered, while Daisy whipped her head around to catch a gli a co on the other side of the room I saw him earlier today, actually He claims to be a close friend of the earl’s" She frowned and predicted darkly, "Mr Hunt will do everything possible to wreck our plans"

"Would he really be so s-selfish as to prevent you fro?" Evie asked in a you into his…his…"

"Kept woman," Annabelle finished for her "It’s hardly outside the real at nothing to get what he wants"

"Thatwith deteret you--I can pronificent presentation, with gigantic silver tureens and platters carried in a ceaseless procession around the three long tables in the dining roouests would dine like this every night, but the gentleman on her left--the parish vicar--assured her that this was commonplace for Westcliff’s table "The earl and his family are renowned for their balls and supper parties," he said "Lord Westcliff is the e"

Annabelle was not inclined to argue It had been a long time since she had been served such exquisite food The lukewarin to compare to this feast In the past few months the Peyton household had not been able to afford muchof fried sole or stewed lad not to have been seated next to a sparkling conversationalist, as it allowed her long periods of silence during which she could eat asnew and dazzling dishes for the guests to sausto of her appetite

Hungrily she consune and Camembert, followed by delicate veal strips coated in herb-dressed sauce, and tender vegetable marrow in cream…fish baked in clever little paper cases, which let out a burst of fragrant steam when opened…tiny buttered potatoes served on beds of watercress…and, htful of all, fruit relish served in hollowed-out orange rinds

Annabelle was so engrossed in the meal that several minutes passed before she noticed that Simon Hunt had been seated near the head of Lord Westcliff’s table Lifting a glass of diluted wine to her lips, she glanced discreetly at him Hunt was exquisitely dressed as usual, in a formal black coat and a rich pewter-shaded waistcoat, its silk weave glea with a quiet luster His sundarkened skin contrasted sharply with the starched white linen at his throat, the knot of his cravat as precise as a knife blade The heavy sable locks of his hair needed an application of pomade…already a thick forelock had fallen over his forehead It bothered Annabelle for some reason, that unruly lock She wanted to push it back from his face

It was not lost on her that the wo for his attention Annabelle had noticed on other occasions that wo She knew exactly why--it was his coence, and arrant worldliness Hunt looked like a man who had visited many women’s beds and knew exactly what to do in them Such a quality should make hi that there was soood for you, and what you actually wanted And though she would have liked to deny it, Simon Hunt was the only ree

Although Annabelle had always been somewhat sheltered, she was acquainted with the basic facts of life Her scant knowledge had been accu two and two together Annabelle had been kissed by a few differentthe past four years But none of those kisses, noman, had ever elicited the kind of response froht, Annabelle had never forgotten that long-ago entle, erotic pressure of hispleasure of his kiss She wished she knehy it had been so different with Hunt, but there was no one to ask Talking to Philippa about it had been out of the question, as Annabelle had not wanted to confess that she had once accepted ticketto mention the incident to the other wallflowers, who clearly didn’t know anything aze suddenly locked with hers, Annabelle was perturbed by the realization that she had been staring at hi far apart from each other, she are of an immediate, electric connection between them…there was an arrested expression on his face, and she wondered what he saw that fascinated hi her fork into a casserole of leeks and s of white truffle

After supper, the ladies retired to the parlor for coffee and tea while the gentlemen reroup would eventually reunite in the drawing roohed and chatted easily in the parlor, Annabelle sat with Evie, Lillian, and Daisy "Have you found out anything about Lord Kendall?" she asked, hoping that one of theossip from the dinner conversation "Is there anyone in particular whoht have taken an interest in?"

"The field seems to be open so far," Lillian replied

"I asked Mother what she knew about Kendall," Daisy supplied, "and she said that he has a sizable fortune and is unencumbered by debt"

"Hoould she know?" Annabelle asked

"At Mother’s request," Daisy explained, "our father coland And she’s memorized it She says that the ideal suitor for either one of us would be a poverty-stricken duke whose title would guarantee the Bowmans’ social success, while our e" Daisy’s smile turned sardonic, and she reached over to pat her older sister’s hand as she added "They made up a rhyet abecame so popular that it was one of the reasons we had to leave for London Our faauche, overly ambitious idiots"