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Ignoring the brilliant sparks that danced across her vision like fireflies, Annabelle left the room with short, careful steps She stayed close to the wall in case she needed to avail herself of its support How odd it was, she thought grimly, that even this minor exertion should cause her to pant as if she had just run for miles Infuriated with her oeakness, she wondered ruefully if she shouldn’t have drunk that last cup of clivers after all Concentrating on setting one foot in front of the other, shethe first hallway, until she was nearly at the corner that led to the east wing of the estate, where her roo fro to be seen by anyone while she was in this condition Praying that the voices belonged to a pair of servants, Annabelle leaned her weight against the wall and stood withoutA few strands of hair stuck to her claeway before her, so involved in their conversation that it seeht that she ed to escape detection

But she was not that fortunate One of the lance in her direction, and his attention was inized thestrides even before she saw his face clearly

It see herself an exhibition in front of Si, Annabelle pushed away fros tre beneath her "Good afternoon, Mr Hunt--"

"What are you doing?" Hunt interrupted as he reached her He sounded annoyed, but as Annabelle looked up at his face, she saw the concern in his gaze "Why are you standing alone in the hallway?"

"I’ to my room" Annabelle started a little as he slid his arms around her, one at her shoulders, the other at her waist "Mr Hunt, there’s no need--"

"You’re as weak as a kitten," he said flatly "You know better than to go anywhere by yourself in this condition"

"There wasn’t anyone to help me," Annabelle replied irritably Her head swa hiht His chest onderfully solid and hard, the fabric of his coat silky-cool against her cheek

"Where is your led lock of her hair "Tell lanced up at hi into his coat sleeves Dear God, the last thing she needed was for Hunt to instigate a search for Philippa when she was probably in soeham at that very moment "Don’t look for her," she said sharply "I…I don’t need anyone I can reach o of ht," Huntfirmly around her "Hush, I won’t look for her Hush" His hand continued to sainst hiuely surprised that she had just used his first nahts Moistening her dry lips, she tried once ain "Si, hard body, and at the same time, his hand moved over the shape of her skull in the softest caress possible

"Please…take arded her with a sudden faint s on his lips "Sweetheart, I would take you to Timbuktu if you asked"

By that time, the other man in the hallway had reached theh not surprised, to see that it was Lord Westcliff

The earl glanced at her with cold disapproval, as if he suspected that she had soed this situation as an intentional inconvenience

"Miss Peyton," he said crisply, "I assure you, there was no need for you to h the hall unescorted If there was no one available to help you, you had only to ring for a servant"

"I did,to push away fro the bellpull and waited for at least a quarter hour, and no one caarded her with obvious skepticism "Impossible My servants always come when they’re summoned"

"Well, today seems to be an exception," Annabelle snapped "Perhaps the bellpull is broken Or perhaps your servants--"

"Easy," Hunt h Annabelle couldn’t see his face, she heard the note of quiet warning in his voice as he spoke to Westcliff "We’ll continue our discussion later Right now I intend to escort Miss Peyton to her room"

"That is not a wise idea, in lad I didn’t ask for it, then," Simon returned pleasantly

There was the sound of the earl’s taut sigh, and Annabelle was vaguely aware of his carpet-muffled footsteps as he walked away fro the tip of her ear, as he inquired, "Noould you care to explain what is going on?"

All her veins see a flush of pleasure to her cool skin Hunt’s nearness filled her with equal a As he held her, she couldn’t help re over hers This was all so terribly wrong, that she should revel silently in being held by hi fro dishonor She ed to shake her head in answer to his question, her cheek rubbing against the lapel of his coat

"I didn’t think so," Hunt said wryly He released her experilance, and bent to lift her in his arms Annabelle surrendered with an inarticulate murmur and linked her ar the hallway, he spoke in a quiet voice "I ht be able to help, if you would tell me the proble that would co her woes to Simon Hunt was an almost certain offer to support her as his mistress And she hated the part of herself that was tempted by the idea "Why should you wish to involve yourself in my problems?" she asked

"Do I have to have an ulteriorto help you?"

"Yes," she replied darkly, causing him to chuckle