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"No, really," Belle protested "His naht then, if this John fellow really does care for you, he's going to be blindingly jealous when he hears that you're planning to getyou up"

"An interesting plan, but who a to marry?"

"Me"

Belle shot him a look of utter disbelief "Oh, please "

"I didn't et married," Dunford retorted And then he added sousted with the idea I'ood catch, you know I si to wed If John really wants you, it should do the trick"

"I don't know," Belle hedged "What if he doesn't really want me? What then?"

"Why, you jilt me, of course"

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Of course not It would do wonders for my social life, actually I'd have scores of pretty little things co by to offer me consolation"

"I think I'd rather leave you out of it Perhaps we could just start a ru to marry and not mention anyone in particular"

"And how far would that tale get?" Dunford countered "Everyone in London is planning to marry Your felloould never hear of it, especially not if he's buried out in the country"

"No, but then again, he probably wouldn't hear any rus and goings of the ton The only way he'd find out ere planning to marry is if we put an announceht

"Just so," Belle replied "The only way a ru to reach him is if it's not really a rumor but rather a piece of information deliberately sent his way" She sed nervously, hardly able to believe that she was considering such a scheme "Perhaps we could let Emma in on our plan She could casuallyto marry I won't have her use your name I won't have her mention any nae to drop by?"

"They're neighbors There is nothing suspicious about her stopping by to say hello"

Dunford leaned back and s "An excellent strategy, Arabella And it savesto pretend I'm in love with you"

She shook her head "You're impossible"

"If your beau doesn't appear on the scene complete hite horse and shiny armor to carry you off into the sunset, well, then I'd have to say he probably wasn't worth his salt in the first place"

Belle wasn't completely sure about that, but she nodded anyway

"In the et you out and about This John fellohat did you say his last name was?"

"I didn't"

Dunford raised an eyebrow but didn't press her for details "What I was going to say is that your little lie isn't going to look very convincing if he finds out that you've been holing yourself up in this mausoleum since you arrived"

"No, I suppose not, but hardly anybody is in to There isn't very et out and about to"

"As it happens I've been invited to what is sure to be an exceedingly dreadful ht, and as the host is a distant relation of et out of it"