Page 97 (1/2)

"Will you write ht about that for a moment "I'll try, but I'm not as poetic as you are"

"No do you know that? I assure you that "

"I never liked poetry before I met you You have always loved it I can only deduce that you have a more poetic mind than I do"

John looked down at her Her face shone with love and devotion in the candlelight, and he knew he could deny her nothing "If I promise to write you a poem, will you proiggled "You already get to do that"

"But in every rooreen salon and the blue salon and the-"

"Stop! Stop! I ireen salon?"

"The one with all the blue furniture"

"Then which one is the blue salon?"

John's face fell "I don't know"

Belle bit back a smile

"But can I kiss you in it?"

"I suppose, but only if you kiss roith pleasure "At your service,the afternoon in her sitting roo letters She and John had hoped to ride over to Westonbirt to visit Alex and Emma, but incle at her desk watching the rain beat down against the hen John walked in, his hands shoved boyishly in his pockets

"This is a welco over those investments Alex sent over"

"Ithe papers up and read them here I promise I won't distract you"

He dropped a kiss on the back of her hand "Your mere presence distracts me, love I wouldn't read a word You promised I could kiss you in every roooing to write me a love poem in return?"

John shook his head innocently "I don't think so"

"I distinctly remember the part about the poem I may have to liht dirty, Belle," he accused "These things take time Do you think Wordsworth just whipped out poems on demand? I think not Poets labor over each word They-"

"Have you written one?"

"Well, I started one, but-"

"Oh, please, please let me hear it!" Belle's eyes lit up in anticipation, and John thought she looked rather like a five-year-old who had just been told she hed