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He leaned forward "I'ry, Henry"

Her eyes widened as she ree Park

Don't ry now?

Believe ry you'll know

"Uhh, Ned," she said quickly, "perhaps you had better leave"

"Are you certain?"

"There is no need to play the knight in bloody shining aro," Henry said "I'll be fine"

Ned didn't look convinced, but he acceded to her wishes and walked stiffly away

"What was theon Dunford "You were deplorably rude, and--"

"Hush," he said, looking disgustingly composed "We'll cause a scene, if we haven't done so already"

"You just said you didn't care if we caused a scene"

"I didn't say I didn't care I et what I want" He took her ar, Hen We need to talk"

"But ht there" Shea few paces away Dunford went over to speak with her, and she scurried off with alacrity

"What did you say to her?" Henry asked

"Nothing other than that I auardian, and you will be safe with me"

"Somehow I doubt that," she ree with her, considering how badly he wanted to drag her back to his town house, haul her up the stairs, and have his wicked ith her But he rehten her, and partly because he realized his thoughts were sounding like a bad novel and he didn't want his words to do the sae ride"

"A carriage ride?" she echoed doubtfully, glancing about for a carriage

He began to walk, skillfullypulled "We are going to es and riding around London, because that is just about the only place I can get you alone without utterly destroying your reputation"

For a ht She even forgot that she was thoroughly furious with him, so heartened was she by his desire to be alone with her But then she remembered Good God, Henry, is that what you think this is about? It hadn't been his words that were so da; it had been the tone of his voice and the expression on his face

She chewed nervously on her lower lip as she quickened her pace to keep up with his long strides

No, he certainly was not enamored of her, and that meant she should not be the least bit excited by the fact that he wanted to be alone with her Heset-down about her supposedly scandalous behavior the night before In all truth Henry did not think she had behaved in any improper fashion, but Dunford certainly see, and no doubt he wanted to tell her precisely why