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He chuckled "My compliments, Lady Arabella I don't think I've ever even seen a copy of The Passionate Pilgri the coonism toward the man melted away "Won't you jointoward the empty expanse of blanket spread out beneath her "I still have most of my picnic lunch, and I would be happy to share it with you"

For a moment it looked as if he would accept He opened his h and closed it When he finally spoke, his voice was very stiff and formal and all he said was "No, thank you" He took a couple of steps away from her and turned his head so that he could stare out across the fields

Belle cocked her head and was about to say so further when she noticed with surprise that he limped She wondered if he'd been injured in the peninsular war An intriguingan hour or so in his company And, she had to ad, even features, and a body which was lean and powerful in spite of his injured leg His velvety brown eyes displayed obvious intelligence, but they also see to find him very mysterious, indeed

"Are you certain?" she asked

"Certain of what?" He didn't turn around

She bristled at his rudeness "Certain that you don't want to join ot her attention No one had ever before told her that he was quite certain he could do without her company

Belle sat unco li she could say with his back half to her And it would have been iain

John suddenly turned around and cleared his throat

"It was really too bad of you to tell et soize I've never been very good at polite conversation"

"Perhaps you should conversea different tone of voice,with me"

She slammed The Winter's Tale shut and stood "I can see that you were not lying You are not dreadful atat all fored "One of my many qualities"

Her mouth fell open