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John pulled the fabric the wrong way and cursed

"You should have left it the way Wheatley arranged it I thought it looked quite elegant"

John shot her a look which said he didn't want to hear it

"Look at it this way," Belle continued, fixing her skirts so they wouldn't wrinkle as she sat down on the bed "My parents are still getting to know you They'll be suspicious if we refuse to be seen in public together You don't want to be at odds with your in-laws for the rest of your life, do you?"

"I don't want to be dead, either"

"That isn't even remotely funny, John I wish you wouldn't joke about it"

John abandoned his cravat for a moment and turned around so that he could look his wife in the eye "I'ht I have no idea how I' to keep either one of us safe"

Belle bit her lip "Alex and Dunford will be there I'm sure they'll be a treuarantee our safety I don't see why you didn't just tell your parents the truth"

"Oh, that would ood impression," Belle said sarcastically "They'll just love you once they find out you've put er" At John's scowl, she added, "Inadvertently, of course"

John finally gave up trying to arrange his cravat and yelled out, "Wheatley!" Then he turned to Belle and said quickly, "I value our lives hly than your parents' opinions, and you'd do well to re as we stay near Alex and Dunford Maybe we'll even have a chance to trap-oh, hello Wheatley His lordship see a bit of trouble with his cravat I'ers Do you suppose you could aid him in this endeavor?"

John's countenance turned quite black

Belle returned his scoith a bright se is ready"

"You do that"

Belle turned to the door and took a step forward

John sucked in his breath "Good God, wo?"

Belle sown she had bought a feeeks earlier when she was plotting to seduce hi her back to hirin

That was a mistake, for the dress had no back, or at least very little of one "It's indecent," John spat out

"It is not," Belle said, unable to work her voice into a properly protesting tone "Lots of woht fabric and then damp it toat your back And that is final!"

Belle decided she didn't half mind his possessiveness "Well, if you put it that way…" She darted from the roo with another freshly pressed gown Belle had had a feeling she'd be changing her attire But she had accootten John's ing, she headed downstairs, arriving just as the front door opened to admit Alex, E very loudly