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"Annabelle, you sh-shouldn’t have," Evie murmured later that afternoon when Annabelle confessed what she had done The four friends sat in Evie’s bedrooirl sat with her face covered in a thick application of white crea at Annabelle frouent, Evie tried to continue, but it was clear that her powers of speech-- which were not all that extensive to begin with--had been obliterated by disapproval

"It was a brilliant strategy," Lillian declared, picking up a nail file from the vanity where she sat Whether she actually approved of Annabelle’s actions was not clear, but it was obvious that she would remain loyal to the end "Annabelle didn’t actually lie, you see She merely repeated a rumor that had been told to her, and she made it clear that it was just that--a rumor What Kendall chooses to make of it is up to him"

"But Annabelle didn’t tell him that she knows for a fact that the ruued

Lillian concentrated on filing her nail to a perfect oval "Still, she didn’t lie"

Feeling defensive and guilty, Annabelle looked at Daisy "Well, what do you think?"

The younger Bow the Rounders ball froave Annabelle an astute look as she replied "I think that so someone all the information is nearly the same as a lie You’ve started on a slippery path, dear Beware your next step"

Lillian scowled in annoyance "Oh, do stop talking like a sideshow fortune-teller, Daisy Once Annabelle gets what she wants, it won’tAnd Evie--no ethical hairsplitting You agreed to help ussituation--how is that any worse than Annabelle repeating an unfounded rureat dignity, taking a s thick streaks of cream from her face

"Lady Constance hasn’t been hurt," Lillian insisted "She’s not in love with him It is quite obvious that she wants Kendall only because he’s an end-of the-season bachelor, and she’s unot to harden yourself Is Lady Constance any worse off than we are? Look at us--four wallfloho’ve got nothing to show for their efforts so far, except freckles, an adder bite, and the hu exposed our knickers to Lord Westcliff"

Annabelle, who had been sitting on the edge of the mattress, let herself fall back to the center of the four-poster bed She stared at the striped canopy overhead, feeling guilty Oh, how she wished that she could be more like Lillian, who believed that the end justified the means! She promised herself that she would be strictly honorable in the future

But…as Lillian had pointed out, Lord Kendall could either believe or disregard the rurown man who could make decisions for himself All Annabelle had done was to sow the seeds--it was Kendall’s choice either to nurture the, Annabelle dressed in an ice pink gown auze The waist was tightly cinched with a reinforced silk belt adorned with a huge white rose Her skirtssound as she walked, and she fluffed out the top layers, feeling like a princess Too i forever to dress, Annabelle left the roo her friends With any luck, she ht even encounter Lord Kendall and find so her ankle slightly, Annabelle walked along the hallway that led to the grand staircase On impulse, she stopped at the Marsden private parlor, the door of which had been left ajar, and she entered it cautiously The parlor was unlit, but surplus light from the hallas sufficient to illuminate the shadowy outlines of the chess table in the corner Drawn to the board, she saith a flicker of pleasure that her game with Simon Hunt had been restored Why had he taken the tie the pieces as if they were still in play? Did he expect her to , she told herself…but the tereat to resist She squinted in concentration, assessing the situation with a fresh eye Hunt’s knight was in the perfect position to capture her queen, which meant that she would either have to move the piece or defend it Suddenly she saw best how to protect her threatened queen--she slid a nearby rook forward to capture Hunt’s knight, thereby eli in satisfaction, she set the captured piece to the side and left the rooh the entrance hall and walked along another hallway toward a circuit of public rooms The carpet beneath her feet muffled all sound…but suddenly she sensed that so across her exposed upper back Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that Lord Hodgeha swiftness for such a stocky ers hooked into the back of her silk belt, forcing her to stop or risk the possibility of having the fragile band snap in two

It was a sign of how arrogant Hodgeham had become that he would accost her in a place where they could so easily be seen Gasping in outrage, Annabelle spun to face hiht of his portly torso cra clothes, while the oily scent of his cologned hair assaulted her nostrils "Lovely creature," Hodgehaent with the scent of brandy "Recovering nicely, I see I think perhaps we should resume our conversation of yesterday, before I was so pleasantly diverted by your an in fury, but he interrupted the floords by cla hard

"I’ll tell Kendall everything," he said, his bulbous lips very close to hers "With sufficient embellishment to ensure that he will look upon you and your faust" His ponderous body pressed hers against the wall, nearly squeezing the breath fro her face, "you decide to accoo and tell Kendall," Annabelle said, her eyes blazing with hatred "Tell hiutter than ‘accoeharet it," he said, flecks of spittle glea on his lips

She sehaht aher head to the side, she saw so with the stealthy strides of a stalking panther It ht in an aehairth He stepped back, finally allowing her to take a full breath, and shot her a glance ofin the opposite direction of the approaching man

Rattled, Annabelle stared into the face of Siehaaze that made her blood turn cold Then he looked down at her in a way that caused her breath to catch Until that moment she had never seen Simon Hunt without his usual nonchalance No matter how she had insulted or cut or spurned hi self-assurance But it seeenuine fury He looked ready to strangle her

"Were you followinghow he had ed to appear at that particular h the entrance hall," he said, "and Hodgeha after you I followed because I wanted to find out as going on between the two of you"

Her gaze turned defiant "And have you found out?"

"I don’t know," caerously soft reply "Tell me, Annabelle--when you said that you could do better, was this what you had inthat idiotic lump of lard on the sly, in return for the pitiful recoives you? I wouldn’t have believed you to be thathypocrite," Annabelle whispered furiously "You’re angry withhis --why does it matter to whom I sell h his teeth "And you don’t want Kendall You want le of eun to fill her with a strange, terrible exhilaration She wanted to hit hiuess--you’re prepared to offer ehed scornfully as she saw the answer on his face "The answer is no No So once and for all, leave me alone--"