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The air outside was a brace of coolness, dry and sharp in her lungs Poppy breathed in rapid gasps, grateful to have escaped the s atmosphere of the ballroo her to the far side of the balcony, which extended nearly the full width of the ht Poppy to a shadowed corner Reaching inside his coat pocket, he found a pressed square of fine linen and gave it to her

Poppy blotted her eyes "I can’t begin to tell you," she said unsteadily, "how very sorry I aco amused and sy as he faced her His quietness relieved her He waited patiently, as if he understood that no words could be an adequate plaster for her bruised spirit

Poppy let out a slow breath, feeling soothed by the coolness of the night and the blessed lack of noise "Mr Bayning was going to offer for ust "But he changed his mind"

Harry studied her, his eyes catlike in the darkness "What reason did he give?"

"His father didn’t approve of the match"

"And that surprises you?"

"Yes," she said defensively "Because he made promises to me"

"Men in Bayning’s position are rarely, if ever, allowed to marry whomever they want There’s far more to consider than their personal preferences"

"More important than love?" Poppy asked with bitter vehee is a union of two peopleless Does that sound naïve?"

"Yes," he said flatly

Poppy’s lips quirked, although she felt nothing close to actual amusement "I’m sure I’ve read too on, defeat the villain, and irl, and carry her off to his castle"

"Fairy tales are best read as entertainloves methodically and tucked the both his forearlance "What does the servant girl do when the prince abandons her?"

"She goes hohtened on the damp ball of the handkerchief "I’m not suited for London and all its illusions I want to return to Ha?"

"Forever"

"And marry a farmer?" he asked skeptically

"Perhaps" Poppy dried the residue of her tears "I would ood with cows I kno to make hotchpotch And I would appreciate the peace and quiet for "

"Hotchpotch? What is that?" Harry seemed to have undue interest in the subject, his head inclined toward hers

"A harvest vegetable broth"

"How did you learn to make it?"

"My hly confidential information "The secret," she said wisely, "is a splash of ale"

They were standing too close Poppy knew she should move away But his nearness felt like shelter, and his scent was fresh and beguiling The night air raised gooseflesh on her bare arainst him and burrow inside the haven of his coat as if she were one of Beatrix’s small pets

"You’re not ave hilance "You think no farmer would have me?"

"I think," he said slowly, "that you should marry a man ould appreciate you"

She made a face "Those are in short supply"

He srasped Poppy’s shoulder, his hand curving over the illusion-trih the fragile gauze His thu her skin in a way that ently, "what if I asked for permission to court you?"

She went blank as astonishh her

Finally, someone had asked to court her

And it wasn’t Michael, or any of the diffident, superior aristocrats she had e, an elusive and enigmatic man she had known only a e

"Because you’re interesting and beautiful Because saying your name makes me smile Most of all because thishotchpotch"

"I’ood idea at all"

"I think it’s the best idea I’ve ever had Why can’t we?"

Poppy’sShe could hardly stammer out a reply "I-I don’t like courtship It’s very stressful And disappointing"

His thue of her collarbone and traced it slowly "It’s arguable that you’ve ever had a real courtship But if it pleases you, we’ll dispense with it altogether That would save time"

"I don’t want to dispense with it," Poppy said, increasingly flustered She tre the side of her neck "What I h a very difficult experience This is too soon"

"You were courted by a boy, who had to do as he was told" His hot breath feathered against her lips as he whispered, "You should try it with a man, who needs no one’s permission"

A man Well, he certainly was that

"I don’t have the luxury of waiting," Harry continued "Not when you’re so hell-bent on going back to Haht, Poppy Believe me, I wouldn’t have come otherwise"

"You don’t like balls?"

"I do But the ones I attend are given by a far different crowd"