Page 18 (2/2)

By the time Belle reached Westonbirt, her tears had dried up, and she was quite happily plotting all sorts of vengeful scheainst John She didn't expect to actually carry any of the thereat hall and was nearly to the curved staircase when Emma called out from a nearby parlor, "Is that you, Belle?"

Belle backtracked to the open doorway, poked her head in, and said hello

Eers spread out on the table in front of her She raised her eyebrows at Belle's disheveled appearance "Where have you been?"

"Out for a walk"

"With only one shoe?"

"It's the latest rage"

"Or a very long story"

"Not that long but rather unladylike"

"Bare feet usually are"

Belle rolled her eyes Eet to her favorite fishing hole "Since when have you become the model of taste and decorum?"

"Since, oh, never o insane"

"Really? Now that sounds interesting"

Ehed "Don't tease me Alex won't let me out of this blasted parlor for fear of ht side and view it as a sign of his eternal love and devotion," Belle suggested

"Or I could sile him If he had his way, I'd be confined to my bed until the baby arrived As it is, he's forbiddenby myself"

"Can he do that?"