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Belle didn't-knohether to thank Dunford or throttle him At this rate Daould be too drunk to perform the ceremony She rolled her eyes and turned back to her brother, as looking at her with concern "Are you certain you want to do this?" he was saying "Who is this man?"

Alex stepped forward and tapped Ned on the shoulder "He's a good orously

"Do you love him?" Ned asked

"Yes," Belle whispered "With all e the depth of her feelings "Very well, then I apologize for the interruption," he said loudly "But we're going to have to start over froiveh," Dawes barked "I'm a busy man"

"You're a red-faced drunk," Belle ?" Dawes said, blinking vigorously He turned to Dunford, whorabbed hi?"

Dunford carefully disengaged hiood fellow, you'll get paid extra for your troubles I'll see to it"

Belle and Ned hurried up the stairs and had just reached the top when they heard Dawes say, "Is she going to play the piano again?" A loud whacking sound followed, the origin of which Belle didn't want to know

Within seconds, Persephone began playing the piano with a vengeance, and Belle began her second procession of the day down the stairs to get married

"You look beautiful," Ned whispered

"Thank you" Belle smiled at his words, deeply touched She and her brother loved one another dearly, but it was a bickering sort of love, not a coain, John's eyes were still shining at her with love and pride, but this time she also saw a trace of humor She smiled back at him, a silly little half-s had fallen into a shambles She only wanted hi the earlierthe piano proroaned, "Dearly beloved"

In due ti when they kissed, although Dunford later remarked that he clapped more for the fact that the cereh to the end than he had for the couple's happiness

After the custo of the bride by all the ), Ned looked brightly at his sister and asked, "Where is the reception? I'otten all about a reception And to think that she'd been co to do But then again, even though she was agloith happiness over having finally married the ht would feelreception

"Belle decided to put off a reception," John cut in set home She felt that your ht that his mother would have preferred it if Belle had also held off on the wedding cereue He smiled blandly at his new brother-in-law and then finally asked the question which had been fore "Just exactly how did you and ht property near Ashbourne's holdings at Westonbirt," John replied "We ht with Alex on the Peninsula," Belle added "They were good friends"

Ned looked at John with new respect

"Speaking of the war," Alex suddenly put in, "you'll never guess who I saw froe as we arrived"