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Belle looked up at hi to do?"

"We aren't going to do anything," he replied, walking over to her and tousling her hair Then, for good measure, he crouched down, pried her hands fro to write Spencer a note"

He walked over to the table where he'd left the quill and paper he'd used earlier in the day "What do you suggest I say?" he asked in ato divert her mind away from her dread and anxiety

"I think you should call him an idiotic son of a-"

"I don't think that ork," John cut in s where on earth she'd come up with such a colorful vocabulary "We don't want to insult hihed, hiding his sem Whatever did I do to deserve you?"

"I don't know," she replied, standing up "But if you want to keep me, I have one important piece of advice: don't die" With that, she took a deep breath and left the rooht eventually cause John's death

John shook his head as he watched her leave She wasn't taking this very well But then, how could he bla London like asuch a distasteful thought from his mind, John turned back to the quill and paper before hie to conduct a correspondence with one's assassin

Spencer,

Do you think I'htly more palatable, perhaps Hardiman's Tea and Pastry Shoppe You may name the time

Blackwood

He had taken Belle to Hardiet a private table there, but h society matrons and debutantes that Spencer would not dare try anything foolish Furthermore, it would be easy for Alex to sit nonchalantly a few tables away

John once again dispatched the s He expected a quick answer; Spencer would surely be waiting at hohed and raked his fingers through his hair He should go talk to Belle It tore hiht, but he didn't knohat to say to her He didn't know any words that would make her feel better He'd been married to her less than twenty-four hours and already she was miserable He'd failed his bride, and he felt helpless to alleviate her suffering

His bride

John's lips quirked into a faint smile He liked the sound of that He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor

He strode out into the hall as quickly as his injured leg would let hi up the stairs "Belle! Where are you?"