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Belle scowled at him A fine naain-Belle's eyes lit up as an idea unfolded in her ratitude, too," she said, linking arhter is the right way to thank you"

"Whyever not?" Dunford's rin spread from ear to ear

Belle smiled archly and kissed her forrander plans for you"

Chapter 24

A feeeks later John and Belle were curled up in bed at Persephone Park, enjoying their relative peace and quiet ih a book, as was her habit before going to sleep, and John was sorting through a stack of business papers

"You look very fine in your new spectacles," he said with a smile

"Do you think so? I think they ive me a more serious air, don't you think?"

"Perhaps" John put his papers on a nightstand, then leaned over and dropped a wet kiss on one of her lenses

"Jo-ohn!" She pulled the spectacles off and began to clean theainst the quilt

He plucked them from her hand "Leave them off"

"But I can't see the book without-"

He took the book from her hands "You won't need this either" The book slid to the ground, and John covered her body warmly with his "It's time for bed, don't you think?"

"Maybe"

"Only "

"I certainly hope so"

"Stop your teasing" She tickled him in the ribs "I' he'd like to nip at the?"

"I still want a poened "I gave you the most romantic proposal a woot down on one knee What do you need a poe that our great-grandchildren will find long after we're dead, and they'll say, 'Great-grandfather certainly loved great-grandmother' It's not so silly, I think"