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"Touché, my lady I cede this round to you"

Belle felt absurdly pleased and was suddenly very, very glad that she'd ventured out that h praise, indeed"

"It wasnumber of scones "Don't you want one? I'm liable to eat the whole plateful if you don't intervene soon"

"Well, I already had breakfast but…" Belle eyed thescones "I suppose one wouldn't hurt"

"Good, I haven't the patience for ladies who try to eat like rabbits"

"No, you prefer sheep, I understand"

"Touché again, lanced out the"Are those your horses out there?"

Belle followed his gaze and then got up and walked to the"Yes, the one on the left is my mare Amber I didn't see the stables, so I just tied her to the tree She seeotten up, and noalked over to join her at the"The stables are in the back"

Belle was intensely aware of his nearness, of the spicy masculine scent of him The breath see, she felt robbed of all speech While he atching her ht, patrician nose, and a strong chin His lips were simply beautiful, full and sensual She sed uncoaze to his eyes They looked bleak Belle found herself desperately wishing that she could erase the pain and loneliness she saw there

Abruptly, John turned and caught Belle watching him His eyes locked with hers, and for aher to look into his very soul Then he quirked a s the spell, and turned away

"She's a lovely mare," he said

It took a few moments before Belle could catch her breath "Yes, I've had her for several years"

"I cannot ietsso flatly now, Belle wanted to know Why had he pulled away fro with hi to speak inanities and, God forbid, o," she said abruptly "It's getting late"

John chuckled at that It was barely ten in the

In her haste to compose herself and leave, Belle didn't hear his ift, after all, along with all the food"

"I shall treasure it always" He pulled the bell-cord to summon Belle's maid from the kitchens

Belle smiled, and then to her horror and surprise, she felt a tear welling up in her eye "Thank you for your co"