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"And you must call me Emma I wish everybody would"

Henry decided instantly that she liked the young, flame-haired duchess and wondered why on earth she had been so apprehensive abouther She was, after all, Belle and Ned's first cousin, and if that wasn't superb reconoring the protests of her concerned husband, took Henry's arer to talk with you, and we can be much more frank without theentleht"

"I cannot tell you how happy I am to finally meet you," Emma said as soon as they reached the hall "Belle has written all about you, and I am so excited that Dunford has finally met his ht, but I have to admit, mostly I'm just pleased that Dunford has met his match"

"You are frank"

"Not half as much as you, if Belle's letters are any indication And I couldn't be rinned at Henry as she steered them doide hallway "Why don't I show you 'round Westonbirt while we chat? It's really a lovely honificent Not at all forbidding"

"No," Emma mused, "it's not Funny, that It was lad you are also frank I have never had very much patience for the doublespeak of the ton"

"Nor I, your grace"

"Oh, please call me Emma I hadn't a title of any sort until last year, and I still haven't gotten used to all the servants bobbing curtseys every tiiven name, I shall probably die of too much for your friends, E yours Now, you inal, I hope"

Henry felt her face grow hot "I'm not certain That is to say, he hasn't exactly asked"

"He hasn't asked you yet?" E little wretch"

"Now see here," Henry began, feeling the need to defend hie

"No offense meant," Emma said quickly "At least no major offense I expect he did it so that ould turn a blind eye if the two of you happened to wander off on your own He told us you were engaged, you know"

"He did?" Henry said uncertainly "That's good, isn't it?"

"Men," E that a woht have known he'd do so to ask me, I should think," Henry said dreamily "And I can't help but be happy about that because I do want to marry him"

"Of course you do Everybody wants to marry Dunford"