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"A ain, barely able to believe that she would soon be well and truly his

"A major technicality," Belle said in an annoyed voice "I can't believe what you just said to ad, that's awful"

John realized that he had blundered but was too relieved to race, it made up for in sincerity"

"It better have been sincere" Belle shot hiruntled look "I'll say yes just as soon as you ask ed his shoulders and pulled her back to him "I want to kiss you so first?"

"No"

"No?"

"No"

"What do you mean?" Belle tried to squirm away from him, but he held firm

"I mean to kiss you"

"I know that, you oaf What I want to know is, why don't you want to ask, if s another If-"

Belle punched him in the arm

"Belle," he said patiently "You auntlet You're not going to say yes until I do it right, right?"

Belle nodded

"Then allow s take time if one wants to be creative about it"

"I see," Belle said, the corners of herup into a soing to have to wait a few days"

"I think I'll ain?"

She did

John came by later in the week As soon as he had Belle alone, he pulled her into his arms and said,

"Twice or thrice had I loved thee,

Before I knew thy face or naels affect us oft, and worshipped be," Belle finished "I'overness was ot runtled look, she added, "But I must co"

"Obviously not ot work to do" Head down, he tromped out of the room

"And stay away from the Donne!" Belle called out "You'll never fool ht she heard hiant word as he shut the front door behind hi proposal during the entire next week, even though he escorted Belle to a few affairs and called on her nearly everyup the topic, either She kneould deny it, but he was enjoying his plans, and she didn't want to spoil his fun Every so often he would give her a sidelong assessing kind of glance, and she kneas up to so when he arrived at the Blydon mansion with three dozen perfect red roses, which he proreat hall He sank down on one knee and said,