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Belle's eyes narrowed "This isn't one of your Sain, is it?"

"I'ht I told you that I would never attend another one of their recitals After the last one, I am convinced that I know exactly how Mozart would sound if performed by a herd of sheep"

"What can you expect when you've been cursed with a name like Smythe-Smith? At any rate, you haven't et out and about, and I don't see any other invitations co your way" "How kind of you to point that out" "I'll take that as a yes and colu into town any day now, and then you'll be saved from all future butcheries of music"

"He won't show up for at least teeks, actually, because E as my chaperone until my parents return from Italy She can't very well be in two places at once, and anyway, I doubt he'd believe I've fallen in love with someone else so quickly I'ht Provided, of course, that I don't have to attend any ht, then, Belle" With a rakish smile, Dunford rose, bowed smartly, and left the room Belle sat on the sofa for severalwhy she couldn't have fallen in love with him instead of John It would make matters ever so much simpler Well, maybe not that much simpler, as Dunford wasn't the least bit in love with her, at least not above the love of one friend to another

Belle rose and headed up the stairs, wondering if she had set herself on the right course of action Failure would be exquisitely painful, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she didn't at least try to carve out a life with John She'd just have to wait a couple of weeks

Chapter 10

As it happened, Belle did not have to wait teeks to set Dunford's plan into motion Precisely one week after she and Eh the front door with a slightly plu at his heels

Belle happened to be walking through the hall when he burst into the house "Ohthe commotion with an amused eye

"Where is my wife?" Alex demanded

"Upstairs, I think," Belle replied

"Eet down here"

Within seconds Emma appeared at the top of the stairs "Alex?" she said disbelievingly "What on earth are you doing here? And who uest be?"

"Your one week is up," he stated flatly "I' you home"

"But-"

"And this," Alex cut her off forcefully and reat-aunt Persephone who has kindly agreed to act as Belle's chaperone"

Belle surveyed Persephone's disheveled appearance and decidedly harried expression and wondered if the lady had had any choice in the e, she decided that Persephone most assuredly hadn't

"Persephone?" Ey," the lady said with a sy That explains everything"