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John threw hi renovations on the house, and even helping out on one or two of the; occasionally he evenother than Belle

The work on his house and the surrounding lands kept his to financial er to rebuild the funds he had used to purchase Bletchford Manor But as evening hts strayed to the blondthree hours away in London She certainly had wasted no ti as far away fro every moment he'd spent in her company, and each scene he played out in his head was like a sht hard and aroused, and he knew that he'd been drea to a nearby village to find a wo that no woman could make him feel better No woman besides Belle, at least

He was surprised when Buxton announced that the Duchess of Ashbourne had arrived You will not ask her about Belle, he told hireet her

"Hello, your grace," he said politely Emht

"I thought I told you to call uess"

"How have you been?"

"Fine How's Belle?" If he could have kicked hi, he would have done so Hard

E to be a resounding success "She's doing quite well, actually"

"Good I'h it would have been nice if she had pined for hithat she had so John's expression, for truly it was priceless "I said she's thinking about getting ain

"And who is the lucky man?"

"She wouldn't tell me, actually She just said that it was someone she met in London last week An earl, I think, orto quite a number of parties"

"Obviously" John didn't even make an effort to keep the sarcas herself"

"She certainly wasted no ti herself a man," he said peevishly

"Well, you kno it is"