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Holy hell This was not what he needed right now

He looked back down at the note He had promised to dance with her if she lacked partners, had he? Well, that shouldn't be a problem He'd simply make sure she had more partners than she knehat to do with She'd be the bloody belle of the ball

He supposed that as long as he had to attend this deuced party, he ought to go ahead and exa s With any luck, Miranda would see exactly where he planned to devote his attentions, and she'd realize that she ought to look elsewhere

He winced He didn't like the thought of upsetting her Hell, he liked the chit He always had

He gave his head a shake He wasn't going to upset her Not much, anyway And besides, he would make it up to her

Belle of the ball, he ree and steeled hi

Belle Of The Ball

Olivia spotted Turner theMiranda with her elbow "My brother is here"

"He is?" Miranda replied breathlessly

"Mether "I haven't seen hies, now that I think on it Have you?"

Miranda shook her head absently as she craned her neck, trying to spot Turner

"He's over there speaking with Duncan Abbott," Olivia infor about Mr Abbott is quite political"

"Is he?"

"Oh, yes I should love to have a discussion with him, but he probably wouldn't care to discuss politics with a woreeain and said in an irritated voice, "Now he's talking to Lord Westholme"

"Olivia, the man is allowed to speak horowing irritated that Turner was not ht to coreet us first We're family"

"Well, you are, at least"

"Don't be silly You're faed little O "Will you look at that? He's gone in quite the opposite direction"

"Who is that nize him"

"The Duke of Ashbourne Devilishly handso a holiday with his wife They're quite devoted to one another, I understand"

Miranda thought it a positive sign to hear that at least one ton e was happy Still, Turner certainly wasn't about to ask for her hand if he couldn't be bothered to walk across a ballroom to say hello She frowned