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"Oh, go away," Annabellesupport of his body as another wave of illness washed over her She clah her nose, andweakness she had ever felt swept over her, and she knew that if he had not been there, she would have cru with her?

Hunt iht you looked pale," he re back a lock of hair that had fallen over her damp face "What’s the matter, sweetheart? Is it just your stomach, or do you hurt somewhere else?"

Somewhere beneath the layers of misery Annabelle was startled by the endearentleman should never, ever have referred to one of a lady’s internal parts However, at theto his coat lapels Concentrating on his question, she pondered the chaos inside her inhospitable body "I hurt everywhere," she whispered "My head, my stomach, my back…but most of all my ankle"

As she spoke, she noticed that her lips felt numb She licked at them experimentally, alarmed by the lack of sensation Had she been just a bit less disoriented, she would have noticed that Hunt was staring at her in a way that he never had before Later, Daisy would describe in detail how protective Simon Hunt had seemed as he had stood with his arms around her For noever, Annabelle was too wretched to perceive anything outside her oa forward to extricate Annabelle frorasp "Thank you for the use of your handkerchief, sir Youcare of Miss Peyton"

Ignoring the Airl, Hunt kept his arm around Annabelle as he stared into her blanched face "How did you hurt your ankle?" he asked

"The Rounders ga at dinner" Hunt laid his hand across her forehead, searching for signs of fever The gesture was astonishingly inti earlier?"

"If you mean spirits or wine, no" Annabelle’s body see slowly, as if her mind had released all control over the movement of her limbs "I drank some bark tea in my room"

Hunt’s warently to the curve of her cheek She was so cold, shivering inside her sweat-da the inviting heat that radiated froe to delve into his coat like a s," she whispered, and his arhtened reflexively around her

"Hold on toto shed his coat while supporting her trearment, which retained the warmth of his skin, and she responded with an inarticulate sound of gratitude

Nettled by the sight of her friend being held by a detested adversary, Lillian spoke impatiently "See here, Mr Hunt, my sister and I--"

"Go find Mrs Peyton," Hunt interrupted, in a tone that was no less authoritative for its softness "And tell Lord Westcliff that Miss Peyton needs a doctor He’ll knoho to do?" Lillian deiven orders in such a fashion

Hunt’s eyes narrowed as he replied "I’h the servants’ entrance at the side of the house Your sister will go with us to avoid any appearance of impropriety"

"That sho little you know about propriety!" Lillian snapped

"I’ to debate the matter Try to be of soht pause, Lillian turned and strode toward the ballroom doors

Daisy was clearly awestruck "I don’t think anyone has ever dared to speak to my sister that way You’re the bravest man I’ve ever met, Mr Hunt"

Hunt bent carefully to hook his ar asilk skirts in his arms Annabelle had never been carried anywhere by a"I think…I could walk part of the way," she ed to say

"You wouldn’t e me while I demonstrate the chivalrous side of my nature Can you put your arrateful to have the weight taken off her burning ankle Surrendering to the temptation to put her head on his shoulder, she curled her left arstone steps of the back terrace, she could feel the facile play of muscle beneath the layers of his shirt

"I didn’t think you had a chivalrous side," she said, her teeth clicking as another chill shook her "I th-thought you were a coet such ideas about leaically rinned and shifted her more comfortably in his aro to the devil?" she whispered

"I have a vested interest in preserving your health I want you to be in top form when I collect on my debt"

As Hunt descended the steps with surefooted swiftness, she felt the srace hich he moved-- not like a dancer, but like a cat on the prowl With their faces so close, Annabelle saw that a ruthlessly close shave had not been able to disguise the dark grain of whiskers beneath his skin Seeking a more secure hold on hiertips brushed the ends of hair that curled slightly against his nape What a pity I’ht If I wasn’t so cold and dizzy and weak, Ithe path that extended along the side of the manor, Hunt paused to allow Daisy to skirt around them and lead the way "The servants’ door," he reirl nodded

"Yes, I knohich one it is" Daisy glanced over her shoulder as she preceded them on the path Her small face was tense orry "I’ve never heard of a sprained ankleanyone sick to her stomach," she commented

"I suspect this is more than a sprained ankle," Hunt replied

"Do you think it was the bark tea?" Daisy asked

"No, bark wouldn’t cause such a reaction I have an idea about what the probleht be, but I won’t be able to confirm it until we reach Miss Peyton’s room"

"How do you intend to ‘confirm’ your idea?" Annabelle asked warily

"All I want to do is look at your ankle" Hunt smiled down at her "Surely I deserve that hts of stairs"