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"A pretty speech, Lady Arabella, especially for one who obviously enjoys all the perks of her position But not entirely appropriate for a gently-reared lady You have beco"

"At last! A coht to hear one fro weary of this party" Belle purposefully turned her back on her hostess, well aware of the scandal such bad ain I hope you call on me soon, but I must find Dunford and have hi"

And while John was still reeling from her passionate defense, she honored him with hera furious Lady Forthright who simply "harumphed" at him and bustled away

John couldn't help hi, while the Blackwood brothers were on their way hoht up the subject of Belle's now obvious friendship with John "I did not realize that you and Lady Arabella knew each other so well," he said with a frown

One side of John's mouth twisted up in a wry smile "She said ell acquainted, didn't she?"

"Her passionate defense of your position would indicate that you are quite well acquainted"

"Well, we are quite"

Damien let the ot the better of him "Do you intend to court her?"

"I have already said as hed He was behaving rather sharply with his brother, and Daize if this puts a crimp in your plans I assure you I did not know that you had tender feelings for Belle before I arrived If you must know, she was the reason I came to town in the first place"

Damien pondered that slowly "I wouldn't say I have tender feelings for her I ood wife"

John looked at him oddly He wondered if his brother's emotions ever ventured beyond appreciation or mild dislike

"It is obvious, however," Dareat beauty, to be sure, but I cannot have a ho spouts out such radical notions in public"

John's lips twitched "Surely you, too, don't begrudge me my title"

"Of course not" Damien appeared affronted by the accusation "You earned that title And our father was, of course, an earl But youtheir way into the aristocracy, whether by purchase or e Lord only knohat's to become of us"

"Belle likes to read," John blurted out, just to make absolutely sure that his brother's interest in her would not resurface "She's read the complete works of Shakespeare"

Da Bluestockings can be such a nuisance, no "

John smiled

"She wouldn't do, at all," Damien continued "But you should try for her if you want She'd be a great catch for a h I must warn you, her parents probably wouldn't approve of the et a duke if she wanted"

"I iine she could," John murmured "If, of course, that hat she wanted"