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"I'elic

Alex stood when they entered the dining roo the way"

"I' h to acco how on earth she was able to keep her lips fro She and John joined E roous in hbor and cousin seemed to be better acquainted than tiation

"I a, John But you land are you frorew up in Shropshire"

"Really? I've never been there, but I hear it's quite lovely"

"Yes, it is quite"

"And does your family still live there?"

"I believe that they do"

"Oh" Ehtly flustered by his odd choice of words but continued the conversation nonetheless "And do you see the," Alex said gently "Pray give our guest time between questions to eat"

Eus with her fork Before she put it in her mouth, however, she blurted out, "Belle is marvelously well-read, you know"

Belle choked on her food, not having expected the conversation to turn her way

"Speaking of reading," John cut in smoothly, "did you finish The Winter's Tale ? I noticed you were nearly done the other day"

Belle took a sip of wine "Yes, I did And it marked the end of my Grand Shakespearean Quest"

"Really? I'm almost afraid to ask what that was"

"All the plays"

"How impressive," John anized, too The lady is a wonder"

Belle blushed "Don't tease me, you wretch"

Alex's and E across the table "If I remember correctly," Alex injected, "didn't this quest also involve some poetry?"

"I've abandoned the poetry for now, I think Poetry is so, well, poetic, don't you think? Nobody actually talks that way"

John quirked a brow "You think not?" He turned to Belle, and when he spoke again, there was a certain fire in his brown eyes that she had never before seen there