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"I said," she ground out "There are four guests I realize that this is an irregular wedding, but I'd like to be credited with all four ofwith silent laughter-

Daas not the type to give in easily to what he saw as a irl, especially after he'd been fortified with five glasses of fine brandy "I see three"

"There are four"

His finger jabbed at Alex, then Emma, then Dunford "One-two-three!"

"Four!" Belle finished with a triu with obvious fascination and mirth frohter, which set off Eed to keep therew quite red in the face and said, " She is the piano player"

"She's ht, you i his broith a liathered here before four witnesses…"

The ceremony continued with blessed unevent-fulness for several minutes John could hardly believe his luck Just a few s, and then she'd be his for all of eternity Fairly bursting with joy and ie to shake the voluble priest and get hi every moment of the ceremony, but what he really wanted was to be done with it all and retreat to some hideahere he could be alone with his bride for the next week

John's hopes for a speedy ceremony, however, were dashed when he heard the front door to the house sla crash Dawes looked at hi that the ceremony should proceed

Dawes fu toward theain, Belle kept her eyes scrupulously forward, but John was unable to keep hi man burst into the room His eyes were so blue that he could only be Belle's brother

"Good God!" Ned Blydon exclaiotten to the part about objections yet?"

"Er, no," Dawes said, his bulbous nose glowing red in the candlelight "We haven't"

"Good" Ned grabbed Belle's free hand and dragged her away fro?" he hissed "Who is thison? And how dare you send?"

Belle waited patiently throughout his tirade "Which question do you want me to answer first?"

"Look here!" Dawes booot-"

"It's on," John said in a deadly voice

"I'ot-"

"Mr Dawes," Dunford interrupted size for this interruption It is scandalous that a man of your stature should be treated thus Won't you join lass of brandy while this matter is cleared up?"