Page 32 (1/2)

"Damn," Simon muttered a few minutes later, when he was able to catch his breath

"What?" Annabelle whispered, her head resting heavily against his coat lapel

"For the rest ofto make uid smile, and inhaled as she felt his body, still joined with hers, nudge upward

"Yours, too," he told her, just before his mouth found hers in the darkness

CHAPTER 23

Soon after Siland, they were confronted with the inevitable interaction of two families that could not have been more different Simon’s mother, Bertha, demanded that they come to dinner so that they all could become better acquainted, as they had not been able to do before the wedding Although Simon had warned Annabelle what to expect, and she in turn had endeavored to prepare her mother and brother, she suspected that the encounter would produce, at best, mixed results

Thankfully Jeremy was happily reconciled to the fact that Sirown tall and lanky in the past few months, he stood over Annabelle as he eolden brown hair had lightened considerably from all the tiht and s in his sun-browned face "I couldn’t believeto s you’ve said about hi the past two years--"

"Jeremy," Annabelle scolded "Don’t you dare repeat any of that!"

Laughing, Jeremy continued to keep an arratulations, sir" As they shook hands, he continued mischievously, "Actually, I wasn’t a bit surprised My sister co that I knew she entertained a strong feeling for you"

Siine what she found to complain about," he said blandly

"I believe she said--" Jereerated wince as Annabelle shoved her elbow against his ribs "All right, I’ll be quiet," he said, holding up his hands defensively and laughing as he staggered back fro a little polite parlor conversation with my new brother-in-law"

"‘Polite parlor conversation’ entails talking about the weather, or asking after so potentially e re an arainst his chest and lowered his head to murmur in her ear, "I have a fair idea of what you said After all, you illing enough to tellthe note of a never seen his sister interact so coes in her, Jereree with you, Annabelle"

Just then Philippa entered the roo, I have htly, then turned to Simon with a brilliant smile "Dear Mr Hunt, welco," Si to kiss her proffered cheek He did not look at Annabelle as he added, "I especially enjoyed the chane"

"Why, of course," Philippa replied, "I’?"

"Just opening the ," Annabelle said in a strangled voice, her face having turned the color of pickled beets at Si when he had put a glass of chane to especially creative use "It’s terribly warm in here-- why on earth are the s closed at this tiled with the latch until Jeremy came to help her

While Silass open and grinned as Annabelle turned her overheated cheeks toward the cooling breeze "It rin

"You’re not supposed to know about such things," Annabelle whispered

Jeremy let out an amused snort "I’m fourteen, Annabelle, not four" His head leaned closer to hers "So…why did you marry Mr Hunt? Ma you, there’sis certain--you wouldn’t let yourself be colint of humor left his eyes, and he asked more soberly, "Was it because of his money? I’ve seen the household accounts--obviously we hadn’t two shillings to rub together"

"It wasn’t entirely thebut completely frank with her brother, but it was difficult to admit the truth, even to herself "I fell ill at Stony Cross, and Mr Hunt was unexpectedly kind to an to soften toward him, I discovered that he and I have a sort of…well, affinity…"

"Intellectual or physical?" Jeremy’s smile returned as he read the answer in her eyes "Both? That’s good Tellabout?" Philippa asked with a laugh, gesturing for the my sister not to browbeat her new husband," Jeremy replied, and Annabelle rolled her eyes

"Thank you," Sireat deal of fortitude to stand up to such a wife, but so far I’ve rin as he saw Annabelle’s threatening glance "I can see that your brother and I would do well to share our manly confidences outside, while you tell your mother all about Paris Jeremy--would you care for a ride in"Let me find my hat and coat--"

"Don’t bother with a hat," Simon advised laconically "You wouldn’t be able to keep it on your head for more than a minute"

"Mr Hunt," Annabelle called after theet any supper"

Si indistinct over his shoulder, and the pair of theht and swift, and they overturn so easily," Philippa said with a frown of worry "I do hope that Mr Hunt is an accoly," Annabelle said with a reassuring smile "He drove us froht ere riding in a heavy old family barouche I promise you, Jeremy couldn’t be in safer hands"

For the next hour, the tomen sat in the parlor and shared a pot of tea as they discussed everything that had happened during the last fortnight As Annabelle had expected, Philippa did not ask any questions about theto intrude on the couple’s privacy However, she was keenly interested in Annabelle’s account of the ners they had met, and the parties they had attended The crowd of wealthy industrialists was unfamiliar to Philippa, and she listened intently as Annabelle endeavored to describe the to England," Philippa remarked, "to match their wealth with titles"