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"I was only courted by you for two months," she was compelled to point out

"Yes, but you spent the next seven years thinking aboutthis, but she did say, "Weren't you listening to anything I said this ly intense "I listened to everything you said And then I spent all s"

"Then why are you here?" she ground out

"Because I think you're wrong"

Victoria dropped her pins

"Life isn't about crawling under a rock and watching the world go by, desperately hoping it won't touch us" He knelt down and began to help her gather the pins "Life is about taking chances, about reaching for the moon"

"I took chances," she said flatly "I lost"

"And you're going to let that rule your life forever? Victoria, you're only four and twenty You have years ahead of you Are you saying that you're going to take the safe road for the rest of your life?"

"As pertains to you, yes"

He stood "I can see that I will have to give you so that he didn't notice how her hands were shaking

"I will return at the end of the day to escort you home," he said, and she wondered whether he meant her hoed "I'll find you I'll always find you"

Victoria was saved fro to ponder that ominous statement by the bell over the door "I have to work," she muttered

Robert executed a sesture faltered, however, when he saw the dress shop's latest custo behind her "Ah, there you are, Miss Lyndon," she trilled "And Robert, too"

"I had a feeling we ht find you here, cousin," Harriet said

Victoria bobbed a curtsy "Mrs Brightbill Miss Brightbill"

Harriet waved a hand at her "Please do call me Harriet We are to be relations, after all"

Robert beamed at his cousin

Victoria scowled at the floor Much as she would have liked to scowl at Harriet, store policy did not allow her totrying to convince Robert that she wanted to keep her position at the dress shop, hadn't she?

"We have come to ask you to tea," Harriet announced

"I'm afraid I must decline," Victoria said dehtbill declared

"My mother is considered an authority on what is proper and what is not," Harriet said "So if she says it is proper, you can be sure that it is"