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"You needn't look so ioddess with a very smart mouth
"You," John said forcefully, "should be whipped"
"I hope you don't intend to search out a crop right now I've grown rather fond of rown so bold? She glanced over at his furious visage
John's traitorous et very, very fond of her backside, and then his even ht What on earth was this chit thinking? You only pushed aof truth He did rather like her So, trying to steer the conversation out of dangerous waters, he said deliberately, "You are correct I a polite conversation"
Belle took the hint She smiled prettily and said, "I wouldn't worry overineby the second," she said between clenched teeth
John looked over at her as he chewed a bite of scone Soed to look sweet and desirable at the sah the protective wall he had erected around hio She certainly didn't deserve the kind of treat out He sed his food, slowly and deliberately wiped his mouth with a napkin, stood up, and took her hand
"Will you allowher hand to his lips "I fear I arose on the wrong side of the bed"
Belle's heart did a little flip at the feel of his lips brushing along her knuckles "It is I who should apologize I' one at this hour"
John s for another scone "These are delicious," he commented
"Our cook's mother was from Scotland"
"Our cook?" John questioned her choice of words "Have you become a per back to London when my parents return fro to feel like home"
John nodded and then held up his half-eaten scone "Ever been to Scotland?"
"No Have you?"
"No"
There was a ?"
"How are you doing at what?" Belle asked with a perplexed expression
"Making polite conversation I've been trying very, very hard for the last few minutes" He flashed her a boyish sh which welled up in her throat "Oh, you're reat strides!"
"I shall be ready for a London season in no time" He popped the last bit of scone in histo coht thrilled her She was starting to get bored with the social whirl, and John would certainly liven things up Besides, she found the idea of dancing in his arle traveled up her spine just at the thought of being so close to him, and she blushed
John noticed the color in her cheeks and ildly curious as to what scandalous thought could make her blush after she'd brazenly co He had no desire to e, however, and so he merely said, "No I haven't the blunt"