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But noith her accusing his, he lashed out withoutthe, and sharp as he said, "If you would look beyond your own desire to have Miranda constantly at your beck and call, you would see that she and Winston are extreasped at the unexpected attack, but she recovered quickly "Beck and call?" she repeated furiously "Noho isunfounded accusations? You knoell as anyone that I adore Miranda and want nothing more than her happiness Furthermore, she lacks beauty and a dowry, and- "

"Oh, for the love of- " Turner clamped his mouth shut before he cursed in front of his sister "You sell her short," he snapped Why did people persist in seeing Miranda as the gangly girl she'd once been? She ht not fit the society's current standards of beauty, as did Olivia, but she had so One could look at her and know that there was so behind the eyes And when she s- oh, very well, so, but he could excuse that, as she possessed the exact same sense of humor as he did And truly, trapped in London for the season as they were, they were bound to co

"Winston would be an excellent match for her," Olivia continued hotly "And she for- " She stopped, gasped, and clamped her hand over her mouth

"Oh, what now?" Turner said irritably

"This isn't about Miranda, is it? It is about Winston You don't think she is good enough for hie, al the wordcould be further fro to e "That is not true, we are- "

"He is too young," he cut in coldly, "and you need look no further than this roo"

She did not understand right away Turner saw the exact moment that she did, saw the comprehension, and then the pity

And he hated the pity

"I'uaranteed to set hiain "I'm sorry"

And ran off

Miranda had been waiting in the rose salon for severalpardon, miss, but Lady Olivia has asked me to tell you that she will not be down"

Miranda set down the figurine she'd been exa and looked to the maid with surprise "Is she unwell?"

The maid looked hesitant, and Miranda did not wish to put her in a difficult position when she could simply seek out Olivia herself, so she said, "Never you mind I shall ask her myself"

The maid bobbed a curtsy, and Miranda turned to the table next to her to urine back in its proper position, then, giving it one lance- she knew Lady Rudland liked her curios to be displayed just so- she stepped toward the door

And crashed into a large, male body

TurnerShe knew it even before he spoke It could have been Winston, or it could have been a footman, or it could have even been- heaven help her, the embarrassment- Lord Rudland, but it wasn't It was Turner She knew his scent She knew the sound of his breath

She knew the way the air felt when she was near him

And that hen she knew, for sure and forever, that it was love