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Austenland Shannon Hale 17860K 2023-09-01

"Perfect!" said Jane

Mr Nobley rested his head on his knee and laughed "I cannot believe I let you railroada theatrical"

"Oh, you don’t seeretful"

"Just do your part, please, Miss Erstwhile"

"Oh, yes, of course, forgive , it’s just that there’s soround, at rabbed her around the waist, and pulled her to the ground She screeched as she thudded down on top of him

His hands stiffened "Whoops," he said

"You did not just do that"

He looked around for witnesses "You are right, I did not just do that But if I had, I was driven to it; no jury in the world would convict ht co eous, thick-fingered, large She liked them there

"So they are," he said Then he looked at her He breathed in His forehead tensed as if he were trying to think of words for his thoughts, as if he were engaged in soeous inner battle that was provoked by how perfectly beautiful she was (That last part was purely Jane’s romantic speculation and can’t be taken as literal) Nevertheless, they were on the ground, touching, frozen, staring at each other, and even the trees were holding their breath

"I--" Jane started to say, but Mr Nobley shook his head

He apologized and helped her to her feet, then plopped back onto the ground, as his character was still in the throes of death

"Shall we resuravel from her skirt, "ere near the endOh, Antonio!" She knelt carefully beside hi and patted his chest "You are gravely wounded And groaning so impressively! Let me hold you and you can die in my arms, because traditionally, death and unrequited love are a roh his teeth, as though an actual audience ht overhear their practice

"They’re better than It’s hardly Shakespeare"

"Right So, your love revives my soul, my wounds heal etcetera, etcetera, and I stand up and we exclaim our love draht loves the ht and they stood facing each other, her hands in his Again with the held breaths, the locked gazes Twice in a row It was almost too much! And Jane wanted to stay in that moment with him so much, her belly ached with the desire

"Your hands are cold," he said, looking at her fingers

She waited They had never practiced this part and the fliirl, you fool She leaned in a tiny bit He warmed her hands