Page 91 (1/2)

He shrugged with supreme nonchalance "Whoever it is who shreds reputations Surely I' to be ht"

We are? her mind screamed He was supposed to hate her What had happened? Surely he had received her letter He was acting so oddly He wouldn't be looking at her with that hard expression in his eyes if he hadn't coement

"Dunford?" It seemed the only word she could ht; she should be cheeky and flippant and everything he expected froely, she didn't knohat to do She'd expected hi in and break off the engage her

And she felt very much like a cornered fox

"Perhaps I just want to kiss you," he said, absently brushing the cuff of his jacket

Henry sed nervously and then blinked before saying, "I don't think so If you wanted to kisslint fro over the sleeve "Perhaps you're right," heat all hoas supposed to

"Mmmm If I really wanted to kiss you--really, rab your hand, and pull you into my arms That would probably be an appropriate show of affection, don't you think?"

"Appropriate," she replied, hoping her voice sounded natural, "if you really wanted to oing to jilt her, he'd do it now

But he didn't Instead, he arched a an to move toward her "If I want toquestion"

Henry took a step back She didn't mean to, but she couldn't help herself

"Surely you're not afraid of me, Hen?" He stepped forward

Frantically, she shook her head This rong, terribly wrong Dear Lord, she prayed, make him love me or make hi, minx?" He didn't sound as if he particularly cared

"D-don't toy with me, my lord"

His eyes narrowed "Don't toy with you? What an odd choice of words" He took another step toward her, trying to read the expression in her eyes He didn't understand her this afternoon He had expected her to cohter as she usually hen he came to visit Instead she was nervous and withdrawn, al bad news

Which was preposterous She couldn't have realized she'd accidentally sent him the letter meant for her dear friend Rosalind Whoever this Rosalind person was, she didn't live in London or Dunford would have heard about her And there was no way she could have received Henry's missive and replied in the space of one day

"Toy with you?" he repeated "Why do you think I would want to toy with you, Henry?"