Page 80 (1/2)

He laughed "I' to have to leave You have by far surpassedmy heart"

"I should hope you have already lost it," she called out, watching hi with eive it to a wo it safe?" she asked, unable to keep a quaver out of her voice

"Yes, she is, and I would guard hers with my life"

"I hope it does not coive it" He turned but paused before leaving the roo back around to face her, "I think I would give my life just for one of your s her preparations for that evening's ball As always, she felt a little shiver of excite It was strange ho that they had professed their love for each other, their ti Every look, every touch was so infused with lance at her a certain way, Henry thought wryly, and she forgot how to breathe

There was a chill in the night air, so she donned a gown of ht-blue velvet Dunford came by to escort her, as did Belle and John, who arrived in their own carriage "Perfect," Caroline declared, clapping her hands together "With two carriages already here, there is no reason to have ht round I'll, ah, I'll just ride with Dunford and Henrietta"

Dunford's face fell visibly

"And Henry--that is to say my Henry," Caroline explained, "shall ride with Belle and John"

Bellea chaperone when she was h to hear

The ride to Hampton House was fairly uneventful, as Henry had expected it would be There certainly wasn't much opportunity for an "event" to arise with Caroline in the carriage Once at the ball Henry was immediately swept away by the crush of the crowd, most of who young woed to land Dunford with such apparent ease

Dunford watched her parry co debutantes, decided she was handling herself just fine, and went off to get so minute with her, it wouldn't do to spend too ed, that was true, so people would expect him to pay her a bit more attention than usual, but there was also so how exactly they had ed only teeks after her arrival in London Dunford didn't think any of the gossip had reached Henry's ears yet, but he didn't want to do anything that ive her a bit of tihly influential and with unimpeachable reputations, then he'd return to claim her for a waltz No one could fault hi out onto the garden Lady Hampton had had the area lit with Chinese lanterns, and it was nearly as bright outside as it was inside He leaned lazily against a pillar and was conteood fortune when he heard so his na toward hi at the saratulations once again," he said "I don't know quite how you ed it, but you do deserve the best of wishes"

Dunford nodded graciously "You'll find someone else"

"Not this year Crop's pitifully thin Your Henry was the only one with half a brain"