Page 58 (1/2)

"Absolutely not!"

"Don't be stodgy, Dunford," Belle said "I need your help"

"You don't need help, you need a harness And I' a sensible A word of which you appear to have forgotten the

Belle stubbornly crossed her ar, his ar as he spoke She'd never seen hi you're thinking of, Belle If you don't break your neck-and that's a pretty big If, considering that all of your tree-cli experience can be located in a letter fro"

"I won't be arrested"

"Oh, really? And how do you know that you'll just happen to tumble into the correct room? With your luck you'll end up in the earl's bedroo you I think he'd appreciate his good fortune"

"He would not He knows I' to 'tumble into his bedroom' as you so delicately put it I knohich roo to ask how you know that"

It was on the tip of Belle's tongue to defend her reputation, but she kept silent instead If Dunford thought that she'd already been in John's bedrooain

"Look, Belle, my answer is still no Absolutely not! With three exclamation points," he added

"If you were my friend…" Belleyou do this An a you could say that will make me help you"

Belle rose "Well, thank you, then, Dunford I had hoped for your assistance, but I see that I'roaned "Except that Belle, you really wouldn't go over there by yourself"

"I don't have any choice My need to see hient, and he won't receive me I suppose I'll hire a hack to take me the short distance froht, but-"

"All right, all right," Dunford conceded with an exasperated expression "I'll help you, but I want you to know that I completely disapprove"

"Don't worry, you've made that quite clear"

Dunford sank into a chair and his eyes closed in roaned "God help us all"

Belle smiled "Oh, I think He will"