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"I’," Pandora said cautiously, straining to see hih the carved ork He was dressed in foruest

"Not at all Why would I be a upside-down on a piece of furniture?"

"I’ht in the settee And I would be ed if you would help er asked, sounding interested

"The settee," Pandora said irritably "I’ what to call the elaborate wooden curls and twists carved into the back of the settee "--swirladingles," she finished

"Acanthus scrolls," the man said at the same time A second passed before he asked blankly, "What did you call therin "I have a bad habit ofup words, and I’m not supposed to say them in public"

"Why not?"

"People h awakened a ticklish feeling in her sto, made-up words are the least of your problems"

Pandora blinked at the casual endearh that she caught his fragrance, a spice of a cedary, wrapped around fresh earthy coolness He s to helpon this settee in the first place"

"Is it necessary for you to know?"

"It is," he assured her

Pandora scowled "I was reaching for so the back of the settee "I’ very chivalrous, she thought with annoyance "An earring"

"How did you lose your earring?"

"It’s not s to a friend and I have to return it to her quickly"

"A friend," he repeated skeptically "What is her naood luck" He led, and heard the sound ofShe stopped with a sound of exasperation "It’s Lady Colwick’s earring"

"Ah I suppose she was out here with Hayhurst?"

"How do you know about that?"

"Everyone knows, including Lord Colwick I don’t think he’ll mind Dolly’s affairs later on, but it’s a bit soon before she’s produced a legitientleman had ever spoken so frankly to Pandora before, and it was shocking It was also the first truly interesting conversation she’d ever had with anyone at a ball

"She’s not having an affair," Pandora said "It was only a rendezvous"

"Do you knohat a rendezvous is?"