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The nextnot quite so sorry for hih he did have a headache distinctly worthy of pity, self or otherwise He wasn't at all certain what he had dreaht, but whatever it was, it had left hi to sit around and watch Belle throw her life away on some dissolute earl

That he did not know for certain that her possible fiance was an earl or that he was dissolute did not enter the picture What if he beat her? What if he forbade her to read? John knew that he wasn't good enough for her, but he was no longer certain that anyone else was, either John, at least, would try to ive her every piece of his soul that was still intact

Belle belonged with sorace and beauty He could just i to sneak books into the house behind the back of her disapproving aristocratic husband He probably wouldn't even consult her on any ient enough to offer a worthy opinion

No, Belle needed hie And then, he supposed, he'd simply marry her himself

John wasn't unaware that he was about to pull one of the greatest about-faces in history He could only hope that Belle would understand that he had realized she'd had been right all along People made mistakes, didn't they? After all, he wasn't some infallible storybook hero

"No, Persephone, I think you should stay away fro Persephone was eager to part with soiven to her by Alex

"I've always liked lavender, though It's one of oith lavender accents, but I fear that the color does not suit you as well as soest?"

Belle sreen velvet and held it up under her chin She was quite enjoying her tih it did at times seem that their roles were reversed Persephone constantly asked for her opinion on all matters, from food to fashion to literature She rarely left Yorkshire, she'd explained, and had no idea how to go about in London Still, Persephone had a quick wit and an understated sense of humor which entertained Belle to no end

But it wasn't Persephone's co such a ready smile to Belle's face that afternoon She had just received an urgenther to be ready for John's arrival any day now Apparently he had not taken the news of her iht with not a little sness She shuddered to think how she would have reacted had soht her similar news of John She probably would have wanted to scratch the offending woman's eyes out And she was not norreen will do the trick?" Persephone asked, frowning at the fabric

Belle snapped out of her reverie "Hreen flecks in your eyes I think if 11 bring them out"

"Do you think so?" Persephone held up the bolt of velvet and looked in theher head in a decidedly feminine manner